Group charter flights in India
One aircraft for the whole party: wedding guests to Udaipur, a sales team to Goa, a squad to a tournament. How it works and what it costs.
- Up to 19
- Large business jet
- 37 to 60
- Embraer regional jet
- 78 to 222
- ATR or Airbus airliner
- Rules
- DGCA NSOP
What a group charter is
A group charter is a whole aircraft hired for your group, with the route and timing agreed with you and no tickets sold to anyone else. In India it is flown by a DGCA-permitted non-scheduled operator or an airline's charter arm. Up to 19 people fit a large business jet; bigger groups need a regional jet or an airliner.
Group charters move everyone together, on your schedule, from the airport closest to the event. They are common for destination weddings, corporate offsites and sports teams.
Under DGCA's rules for non-scheduled operators, a charter is the whole aircraft, with timing and route negotiated with the customer and no individual tickets. Operators may sell single seats but may not publish a timetable.
Weddings have pushed the scale up. More than 100 charter flights served an Udaipur wedding in 2018, and Jamnagar handled over 600 aircraft movements in five days for a 2024 pre-wedding event.
For a few people, a private jet is simpler; for the couple's arrival, see the wedding helicopter.
Sources:DGCA CAR Section 3 Series C Part III: non-scheduled operator permitReuters via Citizen Digital, 2018: 100 charter flights for an Udaipur weddingBusiness Standard, Apr 2024: 600 aircraft movements in 5 days at Jamnagar
Which aircraft for your group size
- Aircraft
- Midsize and super-midsize jets
- On Indian charter permits
- Widely available
- Notes
- Most corporate and family trips
- Aircraft
- Heavy jets, Embraer Lineage 1000, Airbus ACJ319
- On Indian charter permits
- Lineage 1000 and ACJ319: one each, 19 seats
- Notes
- Business-jet comfort for a full family
- Aircraft
- Mil Mi-172 helicopter
- On Indian charter permits
- 6, with 19 to 26 seats
- Notes
- Short hops where there is no runway
- Aircraft
- Embraer ERJ 135/145
- On Indian charter permits
- 2, with 37 seats
- Notes
- Regional jet for mid-size groups
- Aircraft
- Embraer E170/E175
- On Indian charter permits
- 1, with 60 seats
- Notes
- Larger wedding or corporate groups
- Aircraft
- ATR turboprop (airline)
- On Indian charter permits
- IndiGo lists 78-seat ATRs
- Notes
- Shorter runways and regional airports
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320 family (airline)
- On Indian charter permits
- IndiGo lists 180, 186 and 222 seats
- Notes
- Whole-batch moves
Fleet counts are from the DGCA non-scheduled operator list in our database. IndiGo's charter page currently says its charter services are unavailable and points to group bookings on scheduled flights.
Sources:IndiGo: chartersDGCA CAR Section 3 Series C Part III: non-scheduled operator permit
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
What group charters have cost in India
Airliner charter prices are rarely published. These are the reference points on record; every trip is quoted on dates, aircraft and positioning.
| Charter | When | Reported cost |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320, Bhopal to Delhi, 4 passengers | May 2020 | About ₹20 lakh |
| Air India Boeing 787 evacuation flights | February 2022 | ₹7 lakh to ₹8 lakh per hour, including crew, fuel, navigation, landing and parking |
Large business jets in India charter for about ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh per flight hour on our current rates, before GST and positioning.
Sources:Free Press Journal, Feb 2022: Air India charter cost per hour
Charters for destination weddings
In November 2025, charter providers reported rising wedding enquiries for Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Goa, Kerala and Kabini, using 16 to 50 seat aircraft.
In December 2025, when IndiGo cancelled flights across its network, some wedding families switched to more expensive charters to keep their dates.
Because the whole aircraft is yours, guests travel together and the timing follows the function schedule, not an airline's.
Sources:The Week/PTI, Nov 2025: wedding charter enquiries riseDeccan Herald, Dec 2025: weddings switch to charters during IndiGo disruptionReuters via Citizen Digital, 2018: 100 charter flights for an Udaipur wedding
How to plan a group charter
- 01Headcount and bags
Confirm passengers and luggage early; aircraft choice depends on both.
- 02Airports and dates
Pick the airport nearest the venue; smaller airports suit regional jets and turboprops.
- 03Manifest and pay
Share names and IDs for the manifest, confirm the contract and fly as one group.
Larger aircraft on Indian charter permits
Aircraft on Indian non-scheduled permits that can carry bigger groups.
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhat is a charter flight?+
A flight where you hire the whole aircraft, with the route and timing agreed with you and no tickets sold to others.
How do I book a charter flight in India?+
Tell a broker or operator your dates, route and group size. You receive aircraft options and a price, sign the contract, share the passenger manifest and pay before departure.
How much does a charter flight cost in India?+
It depends on the aircraft and hours. Large business jets charter for about ₹6.99 lakh to ₹10.01 lakh per hour before GST; airliner charters are quoted per trip.
How many passengers can a charter flight carry?+
From four in a light jet to 19 in a large business jet, 37 to 60 in an Embraer, and 180 or more in an airliner.
Can we charter an IndiGo plane for a wedding?+
IndiGo's charter page currently says its charter services are unavailable and points to group bookings instead. Other airlines and non-scheduled operators can be quoted.
Can a charter operator sell individual seats?+
Under DGCA rules, a non-scheduled operator may sell seats but may not publish a timetable.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 13 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.DGCA CAR Section 3 Series C Part III: non-scheduled operator permit
- 2.Reuters via Citizen Digital, 2018: 100 charter flights for an Udaipur wedding
- 3.Business Standard, Apr 2024: 600 aircraft movements in 5 days at Jamnagar
- 4.IndiGo: charters
- 5.Free Press Journal, Feb 2022: Air India charter cost per hour
- 6.The Week/PTI, Nov 2025: wedding charter enquiries rise
- 7.Deccan Herald, Dec 2025: weddings switch to charters during IndiGo disruption
Move the whole group together.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.