<p>"The (company) capacity utilisation dropped below 35 per cent last year as against 75 per cent in the year before that. We hope to see some improvement for just single digit growth this year," a senior GMR Aviation executive told reporters.<br /><br />The Bangalore-based firm, formed in 2006, has a fleet of three Falcon aircraft, Hawker 750 and one Bell-407 helicopter. Apart from owning and managing its own fleet, GMR Aviation also manages aircraft of other business groups.<br /><br />According to M R Reddy, Managing Director, GMR Aviation, they have placed order for a new Falcon 7X aircraft with a seating capacity of 14 to cater to long haul flights. "Last year was very bad for overall aviation industry. Both international and domestic demand came down drastically. Though India and USA are on recovery path, Europe is still a cause of concern for us."<br /><br />Reddy said there would not be any fresh investment in the company for the time being as it had enough infrastructure and funds. "There will not be any investments until 2012 when we receive the new aircraft."<br /><br />According to sources in the GMR Group, the company expects the business mix, which is pegged at 60 per cent from outside and 40 per cent within the Group, to become 50:50 this year.<br /><br />"We have offices in places like London, Singapore and Istanbul. Our Group activities are also increasing globally. Business from our Group is also increasing significantly,” they said. To a question, Reddy said the company's sole aim was to offer aircraft charter services and they do not have any plans to launch a scheduled airlines.</p>
<p>"The (company) capacity utilisation dropped below 35 per cent last year as against 75 per cent in the year before that. We hope to see some improvement for just single digit growth this year," a senior GMR Aviation executive told reporters.<br /><br />The Bangalore-based firm, formed in 2006, has a fleet of three Falcon aircraft, Hawker 750 and one Bell-407 helicopter. Apart from owning and managing its own fleet, GMR Aviation also manages aircraft of other business groups.<br /><br />According to M R Reddy, Managing Director, GMR Aviation, they have placed order for a new Falcon 7X aircraft with a seating capacity of 14 to cater to long haul flights. "Last year was very bad for overall aviation industry. Both international and domestic demand came down drastically. Though India and USA are on recovery path, Europe is still a cause of concern for us."<br /><br />Reddy said there would not be any fresh investment in the company for the time being as it had enough infrastructure and funds. "There will not be any investments until 2012 when we receive the new aircraft."<br /><br />According to sources in the GMR Group, the company expects the business mix, which is pegged at 60 per cent from outside and 40 per cent within the Group, to become 50:50 this year.<br /><br />"We have offices in places like London, Singapore and Istanbul. Our Group activities are also increasing globally. Business from our Group is also increasing significantly,” they said. To a question, Reddy said the company's sole aim was to offer aircraft charter services and they do not have any plans to launch a scheduled airlines.</p>
