In the lead-up to the Telangana Assembly elections, political parties rushed to secure more helicopters for their star campaigners. As the election date neared, the desire to cover more ground and attend numerous public meetings drove up the demand for helicopters.
Flying Birds, a Mumbai-based aviation firm, experienced a surge in demand, with hourly rental rates skyrocketing from Rs 55,000 to Rs 1.3 lakh in 2019 to Rs 2 lakh – 3.5 lakh this year for Twin Engine helicopters. Single-engine choppers costed ₹1.50-₹1.75 lakh per hour.
Now as the parties gear up for the Lok Sabha polls, the demand for chartered planes and helicopters is expected to rise by up to 40%. Helicopters are anticipated to be more popular due to their ability to reach rural areas quickly.
The hourly charges for chartered plane and helicopter services vary. Industry experts estimate prices between Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5.25 lakh per hour for chartered planes and around Rs 1.5 lakh per hour for helicopters.
The demand has led to players taking chartered planes and helicopters on lease. NSOPs, entities without fixed schedules, operate around 450 planes and helicopters, with seating capacities ranging from 3 to 37. The upcoming elections are anticipated to incur significant expenses, with estimates reaching Rs 1.20 lakh crore.
