Mostly, when adversity hits, people tend to withdraw into a shell. Only a few fight the crisis and emerge as winners. Kanika Tekriwal, the brain behind the Delhi-based Jetsetgo Aviation Services Pvt Ltd, an aircraft aggregator, is one such warrior. Today, Channeliam brings to you her inspiring life story.
When Kanika launched Jetsetgo in 2012 venturing into the Indian aviation industry after battling cancer, she had no single aircraft on her own. All she knew was that she wanted to build a charter aircraft business using an aggregator model like Ola and Uber. Fast forward to the current period, Jetsetgo has its own aircraft. It has grown into a company with a turnover of Rs 150 crore and around 200 employees. It has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
Kanika started the business with an investment of Rs 5,600. She built an app to book chartered flights. In the first two years, she took advances from clients and credit from vendors for the business. In 2014, Sudheer Perla, a chartered accountant and an Oxford management graduate, joined Jetsetgo as co-founder.
Jetsetgo’s clientele includes corporates, celebrities, politicians, and other significant people. The company offers a wide range of charter flights, including six-seater and 18-seater planes. The company flourished even during the pandemic. It handled 1 lakh flyers and operated 6,000 flights in 2020-21.
Currently, Jetsetgo is looking for a first-mover advantage in urban air mobility with its eVTOL (electrical Vertical Take-Off) aircraft service, which is capable of vertical takeoff and landing. This could be a prominent chapter in the company’s future. According to Kanika. it will be a shuttle service between two points in a city. Jetsetgo has piloted the service in Mumbai. The attractive part is that the charges will be as cheap as an Uber. It ranges from Rs 1000 to Rs 2500 depending upon the distance. The service is done using a helicopter. The company is trying to cash in on the concept of air taxis, which will be a norm in the future.
Born into a Marwari business family in Bhopal, this journey has not been an easy one for Kanika. An independent woman, she grew by overcoming struggles. At the age of 23, she was diagnosed with cancer. Her family stood by her side. After undergoing 12 chemotherapy sessions and one year of radiation, she bounced back. Meantime, she had read motivational books by Lance Armstrong, a professional cyclist who fought testicular cancer and was back on track. His words played a great role in her life. Inspired, she started Jetsetgo. Kanika has big plans for the company that include buying more planes and creating infrastructure. She truly believes everything will happen at the right time!
Until we are back with another inspiring story, stay tuned!
