Helicopter Joy Rides in High Demand in Pune as Passengers Prefer Tourist and Pilgrimage Visits Through Helicopters

Pune:

The state assembly elections may have concluded, but the buzz around helicopters is far from over. During the election season, political parties and leaders extensively used helicopters to travel constituencies across Maharashtra. But now, even after the elections, the demand for helicopters has soared, this time for joy rides, tourism, and pilgrimage trips.

The aviation sector in Pune has seen a sharp rise in helicopter rides. As per the information, around five helicopter flights are now being operated daily from the city to meet growing passenger demand. This trend has brought significant economic growth to Pune’s aviation industry.

Often referred to as the “helicopter capital” of India, Pune boasts the highest number of helicopters in the country. During the election period, nearly 6,000 helicopter flights were conducted across Maharashtra, including operations by helicopters based in Pune, other parts of the state, and even Delhi.

Now, several aviation companies have launched ‘Joy Ride’ services, which are gaining immense popularity among passengers. For a brief five- to ten-minute “Pune Darshan” from the skies, passengers are shelling out between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 per person. The unique aerial experience has become a hit, as many are willing to pay the amount to view city landmarks like Shaniwar Wada, Dagdusheth Ganpati Mandir, Mahatma Phule Mandai, and more from the sky.

Each joyride carries six passengers. The flight is taken from the helipad of the area where the passengers are. If there is no helipad in that area, the director selects the helipad and asks the passengers to come at the appointed time.

Highlights of Joy Ride:

5 daily flights
6 passengers per ride
Rs 6,000 fare for 5-10 minutes
Rs 1,60,000 fare for one hour
High demand for pilgrimage trips

Apart from Pune Darshan, helicopters are also in high demand for pilgrimage tours to holy sites like Tuljapur, Pandharpur, and Shirdi. Passengers traveling to Bhimashankar, Shegaon, and various forts in the region have also shown keen interest in passengers. For longer journeys, such as fort visits or pilgrimages, the fare ranges between Rs 1.6 lakh and Rs 1.8 lakh per hour.

Captain Nitin Welde of Thumby Aviation, Pune, shared his insights on the rising popularity of helicopter travel. He said, “Flying in a helicopter is a unique and enjoyable experience, which is why many people prefer it. Joy Ride services have recently started in Pune, and we are receiving an overwhelming response from passengers. Helicopters are also becoming a preferred mode of transport for tourism.”