Tag Archives: Gurugram

There is an increased demand for air charters in India.

Sirius India Airlines to raise USD 100mn for fleet expansion

Gurugram-based Sirius India Airlines, a private air charter service provider, plans to raise USD 100 million to fund its ambitious expansion strategy. The company, which launched its operations in August 2023 in partnership with Dubai-based Transworld Group, aims to capitalise on the surging demand for private air travel across corporate and lifestyle sectors.

Aggressive Fleet Expansion

Sirius India Airlines is targeting a fleet size of 50 private jets by the financial year 2027, up from its current fleet of three luxury jets. The planned acquisition will include small and medium-sized jets and group charter aircraft to serve a wider clientele. Ten new aircraft are set to join the fleet in the next fiscal year, marking the initial phase of its growth.

Global Market Ambitions
The airline plans to extend its reach beyond India to new markets in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Domestically, it is strengthening its presence in western and southern India to meet growing demand.

Arun Kashyap, Founder and Promoter of Sirius India Airlines, stated, “We are aiming to secure USD 100 million capital by this fiscal and have already started discussions with lenders and investors. These funds will enable us to acquire fleet and explore new overseas markets while bolstering our domestic operations.”

Strategic Partnerships and Vision
In April, Sirius announced a partnership with Airavat Aviation, a luxury private air travel brand with an extensive network in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia. This collaboration is expected to enhance Sirius’s premium service offerings and network capabilities.
The company aims to establish itself as a leading player in the global private aviation sector by 2028, leveraging its robust fleet and strategic partnerships.

Market Trends and Outlook
Demand for private charters in India is growing rapidly, driven by corporate and lifestyle needs. With its customer-centric approach and ambitious expansion plans, Sirius India Airlines is poised to become a dominant force in the booming private aviation market.
The company plans to secure the USD 100 million by March 2024 and begin implementing its growth strategy by FY 2025-26, aligning with its long-term vision to redefine luxury charter travel.

 

IndiGo to connect Pune with Dubai via direct flights from Nov 22

IndiGo is set to launch daily direct service from Pune to Dubai from November 22.

With this new addition by IndiGo, the airline will now operate 383 average weekly flights out of Pune offering direct connectivity to over 25 destinations in India and two international destinations, the Gurugram-headquartered airline said in a statement.

This new route will enhance IndiGo’s international network from Pune by providing direct connectivity to one of the most sought-after tourist and business destinations for Indian travellers in the UAE, it said.

The daily connectivity between Pune and Dubai will enhance accessibility between the two cities and introduce new avenues for business and job opportunities for travellers, IndiGo said.

“With the introduction of these flights, IndiGo will now operate over 100 weekly, direct, flights to Dubai from 13 cities in India, and now offers a wide choice of more than 225 weekly flights into the UAE from 18 cities in India,” said Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo.

The airline has already announced a flight to Bangkok from Pune.

EaseMyTrip opens office in Gurugram

EaseMyTrip.com has opened its new office in Gurugram, Haryana. This strategic move highlights a key milestone in the brand’s expansion journey.

Located in the prime region of Institutional Area, Sector 32, Gurugram, the new office resonates with EaseMyTrip’s commitment to its customers for offering exceptional services. The new office will support the company’s integral operations.

Nishant Pitti, CEO & Co-founder of EaseMyTrip, said, “We are thrilled to open doors to a new office in the Millennium City of India, Gurugram. This is an opportunity for us to expand our presence. We welcome talent from all walks of life to join our company and support us in our larger vision of transforming the travel and tourism industry with our high-end offerings and exceptional team.”

With offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Noida, EaseMyTrip has a strong presence across the country. The brand also has a significant overseas presence with offices (as subsidiary companies) in the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the USA, London, New Zealand, and the UAE. The new office in Gurugram is part of its larger vision to expand its footprints and bridge the market gaps with its travel booking services.

 

Whiteland and Marriott collaborate on Westin Residences

 

Whiteland Corporation, a real estate developer based in Delhi NCR, announced a signed agreement with Marriott International, Inc. to bring Westin Residences to Gurugram, India. The total investment for the project is estimated at around INR 5,600 crore, which includes a construction cost of INR 5,000 crore and a land cost of INR 600 crore. The topline of the project is pegged at INR 15,000 crore.

Located along the growth corridor of Dwarka Expressway, Westin Residences Gurugram is strategically positioned in Sector 103, a 15-minute drive to the CBD of Gurugram and 15-20 minutes to residential areas of South and West Delhi, close to the International Airport and landmarks such as the India International Convention Centre (Yashobhoomi), the upcoming DDA Dwarka Golf Course, and the Diplomatic Enclave, a premium catchment of expats and diplomats catering to over 35 embassies.

The Westin Residences Gurugram is slated to be the largest branded residences and the first standalone residential property in India under the renowned Westin brand, promising a blend of exclusivity, wellness, and world-class hospitality. The Residences are poised to meet the growing demand in India from discerning buyers seeking hotel-inspired lifestyles with personalised services and a global concierge. The first phase, consisting of 674 exclusive residences, is set to launch in the second quarter of this financial year.

The Residences will be an urban resort featuring three- and four-bedroom residences ranging from 235sqm to 386sqm, where homeowners will have access to high-end amenities while enjoying 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds dedicated mainly to recreation and outdoor activities. Additionally, The Residences will be elevated on stilts, allowing the landscape to flow underneath them, maximising the site area dedicated to green spaces, taking inspiration from the concept of biophilic curated by internationally acclaimed designers and consultants, including Design Consultant Architect Hafeez Contractor, Landscaping by Coopers Hill, and Interiors by BM&A.

The Westin Residences Gurugram are not owned, developed, promoted, or sold by Marriott International, Inc. or its affiliates (“Marriott”). Whiteland Corporation Private Limited uses the Westin trademarks and trade names under a license from Marriott, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein.

InterGlobe partners with Archer Aviation for starting electric air taxis in India

InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company IndiGo, and US-based Archer Aviation will launch an all-electric air taxi service in India in 2026, that will carry passengers from Connaught Place in the national capital to Gurugram in Haryana in just 7 minutes.

Archer Aviation will supply 200 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can carry four passengers besides a pilot and operate just like helicopters but with lesser noise and better safety.

Besides Delhi, the joint venture between InterGlobe and Archer Aviation will launch similar services in Mumbai and Bengaluru to start with. The cost of the seven-minute flight operated with the company’s five-seater eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft from Connaught Place to Gurugram in Haryana could be around INR 2,000 to 3,000, according to Archer Aviation executives.

Archer Aviation Founder and CEO Founder & CEO Adam Goldstein said discussions are going on with the US regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the certification process for its aircraft is at an advanced stage. The certification is expected next year and once that is in place, the process will be initiated for the certification by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

In an interview with PTI in the national capital, Goldstein said the company expects to start flights in India in 2026 and aims to have 200 of its Midnight planes for the operations. Initially, Archer Aviation will be focusing on Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. With its flight, the duration will be around 7 minutes from Connaught Place in Delhi to Gurugram and the cost could be INR 2,000 to 3,000.

In a car, for the 27-kilometre distance, it would take around 90 minutes and the cost would be about INR 1,500, according to Goldstein. The five-seater Midnight aircraft will be able to accommodate the pilot and four passengers. The plane, which will have six battery packs, will get fully charged in 30-40 minutes and one minute charge broadly translates to one minute of flight, its Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel said.

Archer Aviation will be having a joint venture with InterGlobe Enterprises and the final contours are being worked out. The US company is also in discussions with various municipalities with respect to infrastructure and other aspects of the flight operations. Goel said it will use the full strength of InterGlobe, which is a conglomerate, and the joint venture might choose partners for the eVTOL operations in India. Discussions are also going on with respect to the real estate space required for vertiports or the launchpads and other infrastructure for starting the flight operations.

Archer Aviation will be opening its manufacturing facility in the US this year and initially, it will have a capacity to produce up to 650 planes and the same will be enhanced to 2,000 planes. To a query on whether the company will be looking at manufacturing the planes in India in the future, Goldstein replied in the affirmative.

 

EaseMyTrip unveils franchise store in Gurugram

EaseMyTrip.com has opened its latest franchise retail store in Gurugram, Haryana. The marks the 11th franchise instalment for EaseMyTrip, part of its strategy to expand its online and offline presence.

Conveniently located at Shop No. 6, Ground Floor of Spanish Court, Palam Vihar (Opp SCR Global School), the Gurugram store is poised to cater to the travel needs of the locals around the area. The choice of this prime location underscores EaseMyTrip’s dedication to reaching its customers in their nearest vicinity to elevate their travel experiences and customer engagement.

Boasting modern interiors that seamlessly align with the brand’s aesthetic, the Gurugram store aims to create a welcoming environment for customers. The carefully curated ambiance not only enhances the overall customer experience but also ensures a strong brand recall.

EaseMyTrip’s Gurugram franchise store will offer an extensive array of travel services, including flight and hotel bookings, bus and railway ticketing, group reservations, luxurious vacations, cruise packages, and charter arrangements. In addition to these services, the store will facilitate visa applications and related formalities, providing a one-stop solution for all travel requirements.

Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, said, “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. With the opening of our Gurugram franchise store, we are not just expanding our physical presence but also extending our commitment to delivering premium travel services. The positive response to our franchising model is a testament to our dedication to exceeding customer expectations.”

Being one of the premier OTAs in India, EaseMyTrip is on a spree to bridge the gap between online and offline travel experiences with an aggressive franchise portfolio that keeps growing and reaching different parts of the nation. Up until now, EaseMyTrip has reached out to travellers in Patna, Surat, Jaipur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Delhi, Agra, Jalandhar, and Pune, with their franchise stores successfully installed in the aforementioned cities. With EaseMyTrip Franchise, the company will continue to create a strong presence in all parts of the country.