Air charter demand soars with 81-day Lok Sabha poll schedule

The Hindu Business Line

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Air charter demand soars with 81-day Lok Sabha poll schedule

Political parties typically rely on charter brokers to book aircraft for election campaigning, with bookings made months in advance for 45-60 days or longer. Payment is based on minimum guaranteed hours of utilisation or actuals. Demand for twin-engine helicopters remains high among VVIPs, including central and State cabinet ministers, due to government guidelines. However, their availability is limited, leading to a 20-40 per cent increase in c…