Diamond Aero

Diamond Aeronautics, a private airlines company floated by three diamond barons, launched their first air charter services on 21st October 2014 (Dhanteras) at Surat airport.

"A few years ago, Diamond Aeronautics floated this idea for businessmen as well as others who need to come to Surat frequently. Finally, they came together to provide connectivity, and not earn profit.

Our flight will take off even if we get only one passenger" Vanani said.

Giving more details about the project,

The company has purchased three Cessna Caravan (C208B Model) air-crafts - nine and six-seater ones - and a chopper to cater to the frequent fliers in the city. The chartered flights can be booked by the residents to any destination across the country.

It can be also used as an air-ambulance, as it is very high tech and equipped with night vision landing and take off technology," Patel said.

To operate their own airline, they have acquired a license from the Bhopal-based Ventura Airline, Patel said.

"We don't have to apply for any registration or licence to operate, because we have taken over the operation of an existing airline based in Bhopal called Ventura, which already has a licence," Patel said.

"As of now, our plan is to connect each and every city in Gujarat with an airport. Initially, we will start regular flights to cities like Bhavnagar and Rajkot from Surat. Then we plan to add Jamnagar, Bhuj and Palanpur," Patel said.
The company, promoted by Lalji Patel, chairman of Dharmanandan Diamonds, Govind Dholakia, chairman of Shree Ramkrishna Exports and Savji Dholakia, chairman of Harikrishna Exports Private Limited - and Lavji Badsha alias Daliya, a real estate company owner, will launch the inaugural flight to Bhavnagar.

The service is expected to be operational from Diwali and cater to smaller cities of Gujarat in the initial phase. At a later stage, services would be extended outside Gujarat, Patel said.

Patel said, "In a month or so, we will be starting inter-state flight services connecting Surat with destinations like Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhuj."

Dholakia said, "Gradually, we also plan to introduce bigger aircraft to cater to other domestic routes outside the state."

Sources said that the company has started lobbying with the state government and central government to provide international airport status to Surat. The diamantaires have been working on setting up the world-class Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) at the proposed Dream City project at Khajod.

"We also plan to launch the Surat-Antwerp and Surat-Dubai air service, but we are awaiting the central government's nod for the international airport status to Surat," said Lalji Patel.