Ventura AirConnect is an Indian nonscheduled airline operating flights in the state of Gujarat with

Cessna 208 Caravan The Cessna 208 Caravan is a utility aircraft produced by Cessna. The project was commenced on November 20, 1981, and the prototype first flew on December 9, 1982. The production model was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA ...

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 International 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."Ventura Airconnect Launches Intrastate GA Flights in India"
''AIN Online''. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2016.Bari, Pervez (3 September 2011)

''Ummid.com''. Retrieved 18 January 2016. Under an agreement signed between the state government and the airline, the state government partly subsidized Ventura AirConnect's flights. 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. By mid-2013, Ventura AirConnect was serving nine cities in the state. In early 2017 the Madhya Pradesh operations were taken up by Fly Divine.

Gujarat operations (2014–present)

In late 2014, Ventura AirConnect was acquired by Diamond Aeronautics, a consortium of Gujarati diamond merchants, for approximately .Vora, Rutam (14 July 2015)
"Like a diamond in the sky"
''The Hindu Business Line''. Retrieved 18 January 2016. Diamond Aeronautics had complained of limited air service from

Surat Surat is a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The word Surat literally means ''face'' in Gujarati and Hindi. Located on the banks of the river Tapti near its confluence with the Arabian Sea, it used to be a large seaport. It is now ...

, a major centre of the local diamond industry. With the purchase, the focus of Ventura AirConnect turned to improve air connectivity within Gujarat. The new venture commenced operations on 13 December 2014 with a flight from Surat to

Bhavnagar Bhavnagar is a city in the Bhavnagar district of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, a States of India, state of India. It was founded in 1723 by Gohil Koli, Bhavsinhji Takhtasinhji Gohil (1703–1764). It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, whi ...

."India's Ventura AirConnect begins Gujarat taxi service flights"
''Ch-aviation''. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.Melvyn, Thomas (13 December 2014)
"Inter-city flight services launched from Surat"
''Times of India''. Retrieved 18 January 2016. The airline suspended operations in late 2015. There was a change in ownership, requiring security clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In April 2016, Ventura AirConnect won a tender from the Government of Gujarat to operate subsidised flights within the state. 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.

Destinations

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

Fleet

As of , Ventura AirConnect operates the following aircraft:

References

External links

* {{Airlines of India Airlines established in 2010 Airlines of India Transport in Gujarat Indian companies established in 2010 2010 establishments in Gujarat