Scale up global operations: advice to charter operators

New Delhi, Mar 20 (UNI) Charter plane operators in India have to scale up global operations in the next 2-3 years or fall by the wayside, says Ernst&Young, one of the world's leading professional services firms.

''The charter plane service in India is highly fragmented with 30 listed companies, many of them not having more than two planes,'' Mr Kapil Arora of Ernst&Young said today at the ongoing 2nd Civil Aviation Week- Airport&Airline 2008 Expo, in which more than 150 exhibitors from 18 countries are participating.

''The operators have only two options-- either scale up global operations or fall by the wayside,'' he added.

He said India would face a challenge in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations with major competition coming from West Asia.

To meet the challenge, India, he said, should not only cater to the domestic demand but also target South East Asia.

He expects that with 100 per cent FDI allowed in MRO, many global players would start operations in India in the next 3-4 years.

About scarcity of trained personnel, he said the mismatch between demand and supply would continue for the next 2-3 years.

He, however, added that MRO, ground handling and cargo services would take off as companies promote new strategies and go in for tie-ups.

''Overall positive good growth will be coming in,'' Mr Arora said.

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