KAHINI CHAKRABORTY – Mumbai
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| Rajeev Wadhwa |
Baron Aviation, a division of Baron Luxury and Lifestyles, aims to fly over 5,000 hours in the year 2013-14 with an inventory base of 25 aircraft which include single and twin engine helicopters, turboprops, midsize and executive jets. The company is also looking at engaging in collaborative play in private flying and hospitality in the future. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Rajeev Wadhwa, chairman and CEO, Baron Luxury and Lifestyles said, “We are not into the mass market model. Our focus is on aspirational travel and luxury travel. As an aggregator of aircraft inventory, we believe that aircraft selection is important in order to provide the best. Since the focus is on high-end luxury experience and clientele, the company charges Rs 70,000 to Rs 4.5 lakh for an hour of flying depending on the aircraft chosen. Collaborative play in private flying and hospitality will be on our roadmap going forward.”
Presently, the company has connections to about 150 airports in India and has a large customer focus on the Indian market. Wadhwa added, “Among the Indian customers, business charter flights to European destinations are high. And with the continuous effort to increase aircraft inventory, we acknowledge the need to expand our presence internationally in Europe and Far East. But having said that there have been a lot of high-end travellers who have opted our services for religious tours, weekend getaway destinations which are short-haul. As the potential of the aviation sector was never a question in the Indian market, apart from providing jet and charter services, we would also look at introducing anniversary packages, or visit to Indian palaces with high end luxurious experience in the future.”
