Deccan, Taj and Business Jets join hands to launch Powerfly

Mumbai, Feb 1 (PTI) Air charter services providerDeccan Charters, Taj Air - the executive charter service ofIndian Hotels Company (IHCL), and Business Jets India Pvt Ltd(BJETS) today joined hands to launch Powerfly, which willoffer services on demand by leveraging the synergies of thethree brands.

"We believe the air charter service industry in Indiahas immense potential. While Taj Air, Deccan Charters andBJETS all have their individual strengths and strongholds inthe business, this collaboration will bring together a newforce that will catalyse the sector," Tata Sons Director andVice-Chairman of IHCL R K Krishna Kumar said.

With the buoyancy in air passenger traffic and Taj Airgetting into marketing alliance with Deccan and BJETS, thecompany (Taj Air) expects to return to profitability in thenext fiscal, Kumar said.

The BJETS, a luxury air charter provider, is backed bySingapore''s Briley Group and has a significant stake in IHCL.

Powerfly will commence operations from February 14and accept bookings with immediate effect, Deccan ChartersChairman and Managing Director G R Gopinath said.

India has seen an unprecedented growth in commercialaviation over the last few years and the alliance would fuelgrowth in the general aviation industry, Gopinath said.

He said "the alliance will provide entrepreneurs andprofessionals greater flexibility to conduct business andreach remote destinations through planes and helicopters."

As part of the tie-up, Deccan will be the exclusivemarketing concessionaire for BJETS aircraft in India and workon expanding and consolidating the market through Powerfly.