Air Sahara is a leading private airline in India established in the year 1991 on September 20.
This is one of the domestic airlines in India that is a part of the business conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar, prominent for its interests in Media as well as Entertainment, Public deposit mobilization, tourism, housing & infrastructure, information technology and consumer products.
In 1993 on December 3, it started its operations with two Boeing aircrafts.
Initially, the concentrations were to the northern parts of India and later spread to all other parts as well.
It was prominent as Sahara Airlines, but was re-branded in the year 2000 on October 2, as Air Sahara, and in the year 2004 on March 22, it became an international carrier operating from Chennai to Colombo.
In the year 2006 on January 19, a private player, Jet Airways announced to takeover Air Sahara, but owing to certain disagreements in pricing, it was called off.
Another attempt was made in the year 2007, wherein Jet Airways agreed for whopping Rs1450 crore as the deal and eventually took over.
The deal was made expecting to give Jet Airways 32% combined domestic market share.
However, the negotiations between Sahara and Jet airlines were long-drawn over the buy-out that matters reached the courts, but eventually, the deal was done amicably and the birth of JetLite was in the year 2007 on April 16 that is now viewed as a value carrier.
JetLite has created a clientele over the years that have the elite sections and middle class people of the society owing to its attractive air fares.
However, with the aim of operating full service carriers, Jet Airways withdrew many routes paving way for JetLite Operations. JetLite covers nearly 27 destinations and has over five aircrafts namely, Boeing 737-300, 737-400, 737-700, 737-800 and Bombardier CRJ-200ER.
The main base for JetLite is at New Delhi, Indira Gandhi International Airport and its hubs are at Hyderabad, Begumpet
Airport, Mumbai, Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Chennai, Chennai International Airport and Kolkatta, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.
JetLite also operates chartered helicopter flights from Delhi and Mumbai.
