Ventura AirConnect

2021-09-20T06:21:13Z

116.73.202.58:

{{Infobox airline
|airline = Ventura AirConnect
|logo = Logo of Ventura AirConnect.png
|logo_size = 195
|IATA =
|ICAO =
|callsign =
|founded = 2010
|commenced = 7 September 2011
|bases = [[Surat Airport]]
|destinations = 7
|fleet_size = 9 seats
|key_people = Manubhai Sojitra, [[CEO]]
|headquarters = [[Surat]], [[Gujarat]], India
|parent = Diamond Aeronautics
|website = {{nowrap|{{URL|http://www.flyairconnect.com/}}}}
}}

'''Ventura AirConnect''' is an Indian nonscheduled [[airline]] operating flights in the state of [[Gujarat]] with [[Cessna 208 Caravan]] aircraft in its fleet. Initially operating flights within [[Madhya Pradesh]], the airline shifted to Gujarat upon being acquired by a group of Gujarati diamond merchants in 2014. The airline underwent a change in ownership and had to suspend operations in 2015. After winning a contract from the Government of Gujarat to start flights in the state, Ventura AirConnect resumed operations in June 2016 and made Surat Airport its operating hub.

== History ==
===Madhya Pradesh operations (2010–13)===
Ventura AirConnect was founded in 2010 as the first intrastate non-scheduled airline in India, providing [[air charter]] services within [[Madhya Pradesh]]. The airline was designed to connect the capital [[Bhopal]] with smaller cities throughout the state, as well as to facilitate tourism within Madhya Pradesh.<ref name="ain">[http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-02-02/ventura-airconnect-launches-intrastate-ga-flights-india "Ventura Airconnect Launches Intrastate GA Flights in India"]. ''AIN Online''. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref><ref name="ummid">Bari, Pervez (3 September 2011). [http://www.ummid.com/news/2011/September/03.09.2011/mp_becomes_first_air_taxi.htm "MP becomes first state to offer air taxi services"]. ''Ummid.com''. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref><ref name="fromtheheart">{{cite journal |date=1 October 2011 |title=Flying High! India's First Intra-State Air Service launched by MPT |url=http://www.mpstdc.com/news%20letter%20oct.%202011.pdf |format=PDF |journal="From the Heart" by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. |page=2 |access-date=18 January 2016}}</ref> Under an agreement signed between the state government and the airline, the state government partly subsidized Ventura AirConnect's flights.<ref name="ain"/><ref name="ummid"/>

Ventura AirConnect conducted its inaugural flight on 7 September 2011, between Bhopal and [[Gwalior]]. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Minister [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]].<ref name="ummid"/><ref name="fromtheheart"/> By mid-2013, Ventura AirConnect was serving nine cities in the state.<ref>Poovanna, Sharan and Saha, Samiran (16 June 2013). [http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Civil-aviation-sings-a-short-is-sweet-song/2013/06/16/article1636658.ece "Civil aviation sings a 'short is sweet' song"]. ''The New Indian Express''. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref> In early 2017 the Madhya Pradesh operations were taken up by Fly Divine.<ref>{{cite web|author=Share on FacebookShare on Twitter |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Intra-state-air-taxis-to-fly-in-MP-again/articleshow/54727219.cms |title=Air India: Intra-state air taxis to fly in MP again - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2016-10-07 |access-date=2018-01-10}}</ref>

===Gujarat operations (2014–present)===
In late 2014, Ventura AirConnect was acquired by Diamond Aeronautics, a consortium of Gujarati diamond merchants, for approximately {{INRConvert|20|c}}.<ref name="likeadiamond">Vora, Rutam (14 July 2015). [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/like-a-diamond-in-the-sky/article7421910.ece "Like a diamond in the sky"]. ''The Hindu Business Line''. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref> Diamond Aeronautics had complained of limited air service from [[Surat]], a major centre of the local diamond industry.<ref name="likeadiamond"/> With the purchase, the focus of Ventura AirConnect turned to improve air connectivity within Gujarat.<ref>[http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/32161-diamond-clique-acquires-indias-ventura-airconnect "Diamond clique acquires India's Ventura AirConnect"]. ''Ch-aviation''. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref> The new venture commenced operations on 13 December 2014 with a flight from Surat to [[Bhavnagar]].<ref name="ch17dec">[http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/33738-indias-ventura-airconnect-begins-gujarat-taxi-service-flights "India's Ventura AirConnect begins Gujarat taxi service flights"]. ''Ch-aviation''. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref><ref name="timesofindia">Melvyn, Thomas (13 December 2014). [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Inter-city-flight-services-launched-from-Surat/articleshow/45505249.cms "Inter-city flight services launched from Surat"]. ''Times of India''. Retrieved 18 January 2016.</ref>

The airline suspended operations in late 2015. There was a change in ownership, requiring security clearance from the [[Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)|Directorate General of Civil Aviation]] (DGCA).<ref name="suspension">{{cite web |url=http://www.suratairport.info/ventura-air-connect-surat-operations/ |title=Ventura Air Connect Surat operations |date=8 March 2016 |website=Surat Airport Information |access-date=26 March 2016}}</ref> In April 2016, Ventura AirConnect won a tender from the [[Government of Gujarat]] to operate subsidised flights within the state.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 May 2016 |title=India's Ventura AirConnect secures Gujarat gvt contract |url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/45930-indias-ventura-airconnect-secures-gujarat-gvt-contract |work=ch-aviation |access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="toi29apr">{{cite news |date=29 April 2016 |title=Surat's Ventura bags contract for intra-state flights |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Surats-Ventura-bags-contract-for-intra-state-flights/articleshow/52034054.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=7 May 2016}}</ref> The airline's [[air operator's certificate]] was renewed on 9 June and it resumed operations on 25 June with a flight from Surat to Bhavnagar.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/suratbased-ventura-airconnect-gets-dgca-nod-to-fly/article8709825.ece | title=Surat-based Ventura AirConnect gets DGCA nod to fly | work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] | date=9 June 2016 | access-date=30 June 2016 | author=Vora, Rutam}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/ventura-airconnect-resumes-intrastate-flight-from-surat/article8773107.ece | title=Ventura Airconnect resumes intra-state flight from Surat and ordered more than 500 Airbus A320neo for more than 400 billion dollars and is now the largest operator of A320neo and A321neo and A330 for long haul routes in future | work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] | date=25 June 2016 | access-date=30 June 2016}}</ref>

==Destinations==
As of September 2017, Ventura AirConnect flies to the following destinations, all within the Indian state of Gujarat:

{|class="wikitable sortable toccolours"
|+
|-
! City
! Airport
! Notes
! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-

|[[Amreli]]||[[Amreli Airport]]||align=center|{{mdash}}||align=center|<ref name="destinations">{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/ventura-air-connects-surat-with-kandla-116081201690_1.html | title=Ventura Air connects Surat with Kandla | work=[[Business Standard]] | date=12 August 2016 | access-date=23 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Bhavnagar]]||[[Bhavnagar Airport]]||align=center|{{mdash}}||align=center|<ref name="destinations" />
|-
|[[Surat]]||[[Surat Airport]]||{{airline hub}}||align=center|<ref name="destinations" />
|}

== Fleet ==
As of {{currentmonthname}} {{currentyear}}, Ventura AirConnect operates the following aircraft:<ref name="destinations" />

<center>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:0.5em auto"
|+ Ventura AirConnect fleet
|-
! Aircraft
! In service
! Orders
! Passengers
! Notes
|-
|[[Cessna 208 Caravan]]
|2
|
|9
|
|-
!Total
!2
!
!colspan=2|
|}
</center>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://venturaairconnect.co.in/}}

{{Airlines of India}}

[[Category:Airlines established in 2010]]
[[Category:Airlines of India]]
[[Category:Transport in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 2010]]
[[Category:2010 establishments in Gujarat]]

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Ventura AirConnect