We catch up with Sky One’s Group Chairman, Jaideep Mirchandani, and map out the evolving contours of the Indian and global aviation landscape.
Sky One evolved from a cargo startup to a global aviation services company. What were the key turning points in this journey, and how did you know when to diversify?
– Sky One’s growth story has led by monitoring the ever-changing trends in aviation and providing reliable solutions. We did start as a Cargo company but there were significant turning points where leasing and MRO services succeeded the demand, especially in the middle east. In the last decade we have seen a clear need for high quality efficient support aviation services in the market from ground operations to advisory on routes as well as crew.
For Sky One, the turning points are realized only after we have provided services to our clients, for example the leasing business reacts to a high traffic and our recent acquisition of Pilot training institutes was due to an obvious gap in talent. With the increase in aviation activity in India and the Middle east, we provide ACMI services and spare parts, giving us the ability to be considered as an all-inclusive provider which in turn helped us establish our image in the market as a dependable universal aviation provider.
As someone who spotted opportunities in markets like Russia, China, and Africa early on, how do you identify emerging aviation markets before others do?
Identification of new markets that have potential is a mixture of extensive research, experience and a conducive relationship. We look at economic, trade and metropolitan growth in its different forms and try to consider where the aviation infrastructure will most likely be developed. Much of it has to do with comprehending the obstacles and prospects that the region faces.
For instance, Africa has specific needs in logistics and identified the potential for growth in those areas very early. We attempt to provide flexible solutions for a particular market without waiting for these markets to become standardized exposing us as being fast and progressive in these markets. Meanwhile, India’s growth potential is supported by a huge domestic market, government policies that encourage infrastructure development, which will in turn boost the sector.
The aviation industry is pushing toward sustainability while trying to maintain profitability. How is Sky One balancing these demands?
We reside in a world where sustainability goes at par with profitability – at Sky One, our focus is to invest in its development. Looking forward, we are focusing on fuel-efficient aircrafts and considering newer avenues to further cut emissions while carrying out operations from going digital in records to supporting the use of spare parts and.
Our MRO powers are gradually increasing the life cycle extension of aviation assets, which is both quite sustainable as well as economical. We are also looking into utilization of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), though at a nascent stage, and state of the art logistics methods that help reduce fuel utilization. The aviation sector has a long journey ahead, and there are several challenges, but in each of these, our focus has been on providing answers, which not only fulfill environmental standards, but also makes our businesses more efficient.
With your recent interest in Go First, what’s your vision for the future of aviation in India, and how does it fit into Sky One’s global strategy?
The aviation industry in India is at the edge of exponential growth. With both international and domestic travel booming rapidly, India is a major base for our aspirations across the globe. Our interest in Go First was a further endorsement in our strong belief, of the Indian market’s future growth. It is a way to leverage our knowledge of leasing, MRO and Pilot training to help develop India’s aviation sector. We will back India’s growth as an aviation centre and hive it into our global network, allowing it to have access to the same phenomenal aviation services we offer across the globe.
Also read: Smart navigational tech boosts resilience in low visibility: Sky One
