A Bhopal-based high net worth individual hired a 180-seater Airbus A320 plane carrier to ferry four family members to New Delhi, in a bid to avoid crowd at the airport and the risk of exposing them to the covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
The liquor baron, chartered the aircraft to send to Delhi his wife, her two children and nanny, who were stuck in Bhopal since the last two months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
The plane took off from Delhi at 9.05, carrying the crew only. It landed at Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal at 10.30. The four passengers were boarded, and the plane departed for Delhi at 11.30, reaching at 12.55.
The estimated cost for chartering an A320 would be between 400,000 – 500,000 INR (approximately $5296 – $6620) an hour. Industry insiders suggest that the flight from Bhopal to Delhi would have cost in the region of 1,000,000 INR ($13,240) as both legs of the journey would have been paid for.