TRENDS| Indian entrepreneurs take their goals sky-high

An increasing number of businessmen are entering the aviation business.

Kochi-based Emric Aviation, Air Dravida, Bird Group, Indus Air -by breweries company Mohan Meakin, Star Aviation, Trans India Aviation and many more...



Kochi-based Emric Aviation is a proposed regional carrier promoted by Martin Sebastian, a Kerala-based real estate and infrastructure developer who has diversified into the hospitality and SEZ development businesses, and digital film production.

The company is targeting cities like Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore and Mysore, and is in negotiations with Bombardier and Embraer for its aircraft fleet.

Emric Air is joined by travel firms Air Dravida in Chennai and the Bird Group in Delhi, Indus Air -by breweries company Mohan Meakin in the North, Gurgaon-based MDLR Airlines, Star Aviation and Trans India Aviation, who are all set to enter this emerging segment.

The opportunities opening up in regional routes, connecting the tier-II cities, is fuelled by a variety of factors. Air Dravida is eyeing passengers who fly international routes from smaller towns via the metros - say from Trichy or Coimbatore to Chennai onwards to Singapore.

Up North, for the Bird Group - with a background in the travel and hospitality businesses - launching an airline is a natural step forward. The group, which has a joint venture with Amadeus, a GDS player for air ticket reservation and Thai-based Dusit Thani Group of Hotels, does ground handling, airport checkins and also runs a training academy for travel industry.

03/12/07 Vishakha Talreja & Shruti Chauhan/Economic Times