TruJet
{{short description|Former Indian low-cost regional airline based in Hyderabad (2013–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = TruJet
| logo = TruJet logo.png
| logo_size =
| parent = NS Aviation Pvt. Ltd.
| fleet_size =
| destinations = 12
| callsign = TRUJET{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/7340.2G_Bsc_dtd_1-5-17.pdf | title=JO 7340.2G Contractions | work=Federal Aviation Administration | date=5 January 2017 |pages=3–1–101 |access-date=8 June 2017}}
| founded = {{start date|2013|03|14|df=y}}
| commenced = {{start date|2015|07|12|df=y}}
| ceased = {{end date|2022|02|15|df=y}}
| headquarters = Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| hubs = Hyderabad
| secondary_hubs =
- Chennai{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/trujet-dismisses-disruption-of-services-as-minor-glitch-says-will-add-two-new-bases/articleshow/70666085.cms?from=mdr |title=Trujet dismisses disruption of services as minor glitch, says will add two new bases | Hyderabad News - Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2019-08-14 |access-date=2019-08-26}}
- Ahmedabad{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/trujet-plans-to-double-fleet-add-10-more-destinations-during-2019/article28401931.ece |title=Trujet to double fleet, takes it to 10 ATRs; adds 10 more destinations by end of 2019 |publisher=The Hindu BusinessLine |date=2019-07-12 |access-date=2019-08-26}}
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| key_people = Dr Mohammed Ali (Chairman), Mrs Isha Ali (Vice Chairman)
| image =
| aoc =
| num_employees =
}}
TruJet was an Indian regional airline based at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. The airline commenced operations in July 2015 and ceased all operations in February 2022. At its peak, the airline had seven aircraft, and was India's longest serving regional airline.{{cite news |date=16 February 2022|title=Who gains if TruJet doesn't restart?|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/companies/who-gains-if-trujet-doesnt-restart-8115881.html |work=Moneycontrol|access-date=10 June 2024}}
History
Turbo Megha Airways Private Limited was incorporated on March 14, 2013 with Ram Charan and Vankayalapati Umesh as promoters,{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150711/business-latest/article/trujet-add-three-more-aircraft-will-invest-rs-500-crore|title=Trujet to add three more aircraft, will invest Rs 500 crore|date=11 July 2015|website=Deccan Chronicle}} with the backing of 20 investors.{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/management/trujet-builds-a-budget-brand-115072901351_1.html | title=Trujet builds a budget brand | work=Business Standard | date=29 July 2015 | access-date=22 July 2016 | author=T. E., Narasimhan}} The company planned to operate ATR aircraft primarily aimed at pilgrims and middle class travellers to destinations like Tirupati.{{cite news| url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150214/nation-current-affairs/article/ram-charan%E2%80%99s-airlines-start-services-april|title=Ram Charan's airlines to start services from April|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=14 February 2015|access-date=22 July 2016 | author=Reddy, U. Sudhakar}}
The airline obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation on 21 July 2014.{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/ramcharan-tej-forays-into-airline-biz/article6238754.ece | title=Ramcharan Tej forays into airline biz | work=The Hindu | date=22 July 2014 | access-date=22 July 2016 | author=Krishnamoorthy, Suresh}}
In August 2014, the promoters sold a 90 per cent stake in the airline to Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) in order to fund their operations.{{cite news| url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/megha-airways-looks-to-sell-majority-stake/articleshow/40445530.cms |title=Megha Airways looks to sell majority stake|work=The Economic Times|date=20 August 2014 |access-date=13 February 2020 }}{{cite news| url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/ipos/fpos/trujet-mulls-ipo-after-3-years-expects-rs-600-cr-topline-by-fy22/articleshow/70192952.cms |title=TruJet mulls IPO after 3 years; expects Rs 600 Cr topline by FY22|work=The Economic Times|date=12 July 2019 |access-date=13 February 2020 }}
The airline adopted the brand name TruJet in February 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/35441-indias-turbo-megha-airways-to-become-trujet-on-launch | title=India's Turbo Megha Airways to become TruJet on launch | work=ch-aviation | date=23 February 2015 | access-date=22 July 2016}}{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-02-19/news/59305264_1_vankayalapati-umesh-turbo-megha-airways-aircraft-maintenance | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225125028/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-02-19/news/59305264_1_vankayalapati-umesh-turbo-megha-airways-aircraft-maintenance | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 February 2015 | title=Turbo Megha Airways may start regional airline TruJet in 2 months, post final approval | work=The Economic Times | date=19 February 2015 | access-date=22 July 2016 | author=Kesireddy, Raji}}
TruJet received its air operator's certificate for regional operations from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on 7 July 2015.{{cite news | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/business/business-others/with-dgca-nod-trujet-becomes-the-latest-to-enter-domestic-skies/ | title=With DGCA nod, Trujet becomes the latest to enter domestic skies | work=The Indian Express | date=8 July 2015 | access-date=22 July 2016}} The airline commenced operations on 12 July with a flight from its Hyderabad hub to Tirupati.{{cite news | url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/38815-indias-trujet-commences-operations | title=India's TruJet commences operations | work=ch-aviation | date=14 July 2015 | access-date=22 July 2016}}
The airline's Air Operators Permit (AOP) was changed to the scheduled commuter operator (SCO) category by the DGCA in May 2017, allowing the carrier to operate flights to other regions of India under the government's UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme.{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/turbo-megha-airways-gets-aoc-to-expand-udan-flights-to-mumbai-shirdi/articleshow/58715967.cms | title=Turbo Megha Airways gets AOC to expand UDAN flights to Mumbai, Shirdi | work=The Economic Times | date=17 May 2017 | access-date=13 February 2020}}
By 2018, the airline was operating to 20 destinations with five ATR aircraft and had carried around 1.2 million passengers. TruJet's operated over 300 UDAN flights a week, amounting to about 73 per cent of its total capacity. But by 2019, the airline began seeing cancellations. In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic brought in further operational difficulties.{{cite news |date=24 May 2022|title=How a gospel DJ-turned-event manager-turned civil contractor became India's newest airline owner|url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/take-one-big-story-of-the-day/how-a-gospel-djturnedevent-managerturned-civil-contractor-became-indias-newest-airline-owner/76569/1 |work=Forbes India|access-date=10 June 2024}}
From 12 July 2020, five out of seven ATR aircraft operated by TruJet were grounded by lessors due unpaid dues.{{cite news|title=End of runway for TruJet|publisher=The Hindu Business Line|access-date=15 July 2020|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/is-it-the-end-of-runway-for-trujet/article32082931.ece}}
On 1 April 2021, Trujet announced that US firm Interups had purchased a 49% stake in the company. In an interview, Laxmi Prasad, the chairman of Interups stated that they planned to expand services across the country as well as overseas, and to entrer into market segments such as cargo, private charters, and helicopter ambulance services.{{Cite web|title=India’s Trujet to buy 54 A220s, 54 E2s, says new investor|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/102308-indias-trujet-to-buy-54-a220s-54-e2s-says-new-investor|access-date=2021-04-12|website=ch-aviation|language=en}} Interups' new investment plan would involve the purchase of narrow body aircraft such as the Airbus A220 and the Embraer E-Series.
However, as of July the funds had not been released.{{cite news |date=15 July 2021|title=US-based Interups yet to infuse funds into regional airline TruJet |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/us-based-interups-yet-to-infuse-funds-into-regional-airline-trujet/article35350861.ece|work=The Hindu Business Line|location=|access-date=10 June 2024}}
MEIL transferred the airline's ownership to its former owner Vankayalapati Umesh for an undisclosed amount in October 2021. Umesh took over as the Managing Director on October 9 even as most of the board of TruJet resigned.{{cite news |date=12 October 2021|title=Ex-promoter Vankayalapati Umesh regains control of TruJet from MEIL|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/ex-promoter-vankayalapati-umesh-regains-control-of-trujet-from-meil/article36971346.ece |work=Hindu Businessline|location=|access-date=10 June 2024}}
TruJet recorded an operating loss of Rs 143 crore FY21, while the operating loss stood at Rs 10.1 crore in FY20 and Rs 17.56 crore in FY19. On 15 February 2022, TruJet ceased all operations owing to financial crisis.{{cite news |author= |date=16 February 2022|title=TruJet suspends all flights|url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/aviation/regional-airline-trujet-temporarily-suspends-flights-12517192.htm|work=CNBC TV18|location=|access-date=23 August 2022}}{{Cite web|title=Regional airline TruJet suspends all flights, airline says in talks with investor for $25 million funding|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/news/regional-airline-trujet-suspends-all-flights-airline-says-in-talks-with-investor-for-25-million-funding/ar-AATVTiS|access-date=2022-02-17|website=MSN|language=en-IN}}
Efforts were made to restart the airline with the help of investors. In May 2022, We Indian Nationals Aviation Private Limited (Winair), a company headquartered in Nagpur, announced that it had acquired a 79% stake in Trujet.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-06 |title=Winair To Acquire 79% of TruJet |url=https://aviationsourcenews.com/news/winair-to-acquire-79-of-trujet/ |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=AviationSource |language=en-GB}} In June 2023, US-based aviation company NS Aviation announced that it had acquired an 85 per cent stake in the airline and had plans to revive the airline by end of 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-08 |title=TruJet’s New Avatar, The NS Airline, Set to Soar in Indian Skies |url=https://news4masses.com/trujets-avatar-ns-airline-indian-skies/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=N4M Media |language=en}}
Destinations
TruJet used to operate from the following destinations as of June 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/by-2020-nashik-likely-to-be-one-of-indias-busiest-airports/1440181|title=By 2020, Nashik likely to be one of India's busiest airports|date=2019-01-19|website=Freepressjournal : Latest Indian news,Live updates|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-22}}{{cite web|title=TruJet Schedule|url=https://d37ze9qx56fv1m.cloudfront.net/docs/Flight_Schedule_PDF_New.pdf|website=www.trujet.co.uk|access-date=4 June 2021}}
Fleet
File:TruJet 9M-TAG at Hyderabad, June 2015.jpg]]
As of July 2022, TruJet operates the following aircraft:{{Cn|date=September 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:0.5em auto"
|+ TruJet fleet |
| Aircraft
! In service ! Orders ! Passengers ! Notes |
|---|
| ATR 72-500
|0 |— |70 | |
| ATR 72-600
|0 |— |70 | |
| Total
!0 ! !colspan=2| |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons-inline}}
- {{Official website|/}}
{{portalbar|Aviation|Companies|India}}
{{Airlines of India}}{{Ram Charan}}
Category:Defunct airlines of India
Category:Airlines established in 2013
Category:Airlines disestablished in 2022
Category:Companies based in Hyderabad, India