Surat: Surat-based airliner Ventura AirConnect Ltd (VAL) will launch Surat-Rajkot intra-state flight operations from June 25. The inaugural flight will fly to Bhavnagar as Ventura has not received landing permission at Rajkot as of now.

Ventura is going to resume its intra-state flights connecting Surat with Rajkot and Bhavnagar as the company has received the Air Operator Permit for non-scheduled flight operations from the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently.

The civil aviation regulator, DGCA, issued the permit authorising Ventura AirConnect, promoted by Surat-based diamond barons, to undertake commercial air operations in line with the specifications defined. The company plans to launch services between Ahmedabad-Udaipur and Ahmedabad-Indore, apart from intra-state flights in Gujarat.

In late 2015, Ventura’s services were suspended for security reasons and expiry of its licence. Apart from the DGCA permit, it has been given a commitment letter to launch intra-state air connectivity in Gujarat.

Since the launch of services from Surat in December 2014, the airline has ferried 10,000 passengers with average occupancy of 75-80 per cent, before its services were suspended in late 2015.

It operates a fleet of 9-seater Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Grand Caravans.

– DeshGujarat