Helicopter booking in India
Pilgrimages, weddings, city hops and private charters. What a helicopter costs, where it can land, and every trip we arrange, in one place.
- Single-engine
- ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh/hr
- Twin-engine
- ₹1.5 to ₹3 lakh/hr
- On Indian permits
- 225 helicopters
- GST on charter
- 18%
How helicopter booking works in India
A private helicopter costs about ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per flying hour for a single-engine model such as the Bell 407, and ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh for a twin, plus 18% GST and a daily minimum of 2 to 3 hours. Shared pilgrimage shuttles are far cheaper per seat: the 2026 Kedarnath shuttle costs ₹6,390 to ₹12,762 return.
There are two ways to fly by helicopter in India: a seat on a government-tendered shuttle, such as Kedarnath or Vaishno Devi, or the whole helicopter on a private charter.
Shuttle seats are sold only through official channels: IRCTC HeliYatra for Kedarnath and Hemkund, the Shrine Board for Vaishno Devi. Altivo Jets does not resell them.
Private charters go anywhere a helicopter can legally land: an airport, a helipad, or a prepared site with the landowner's consent and four days' notice to the district. You pay for flying time from the operator's base and back.
225 helicopters fly on Indian non-scheduled permits, from four-seat Robinsons to 26-seat Mi-172s. We match the helicopter to your passengers, weights and landing site, then quote the all-in price.
Sources:YourStory/PTI, Apr 2024: normal and election-season helicopter ratesBusiness Today, May 2024: helicopter rates in election seasonCBIC Circular 234/28/2024-GST on helicopter servicesETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli faresIRCTC HeliYatra, the official Kedarnath and Hemkund shuttle booking portalShri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, official siteMinistry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Disha guide for district administrations
Helicopter pilgrimages
Fares, booking rules and private options for every major helicopter yatra, checked for the 2026 season.
2026 shuttle ₹6,390 to ₹12,762 return from Sersi, Phata or Guptkashi; private trips from Dehradun.
All four shrines in 5 nights from Dehradun, ₹2 lakh to ₹2.45 lakh per person.
Kedarnath and Badrinath in a day, from about ₹1.1 lakh per person.
Katra to Sanjichhat in 8 minutes, ₹2,320 one way, ₹2,700 from 1 November 2026.
About 50 minutes from Dehradun; a Gauchar shuttle was tendered for 2026.
Govindghat to Ghangaria shuttle, ₹10,584 in 2026, saving 13 km of trek.
No helicopter in 2025 or 2026: what happened and what to book instead.
Tell us where you want to go; we check landing sites and operators.
Sources:ETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli faresHeritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter costPawan Hans: Do Dham charter package (PDF)NewsX, 4 Sep 2026: Vaishno Devi helicopter fare from 1 NovembereUttaranchal: Badrinath heli servicesZee News, Jun 2026: Baltal and Pahalgam routes declared no-fly zones
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Weddings, rent and rides
Baraat arrivals and vidai flights cost ₹3 lakh to ₹8.5 lakh in reported cases, with permissions explained.
Per hour and per day costs, billing rules and GST, with real examples.
When the party is too big for a helicopter: jets and airliners for the whole group.
Helicopter prices in India at a glance
| Trip or type | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Single-engine charter (Bell 407, H125) | ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per hour | Whole helicopter, plus 18% GST |
| Twin-engine charter (AW109, H145) | ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh per hour | Whole helicopter, plus 18% GST |
| Kedarnath shuttle | ₹6,390 to ₹12,762 | Per person, return, 2026 |
| Vaishno Devi shuttle | ₹2,320 (₹2,700 from 1 Nov 2026) | Per person, one way |
| Hemkund Sahib shuttle | ₹10,584 | Per person, 2026 |
| Do Dham, same day | ₹1.1 lakh to ₹1.25 lakh | Per person, shared |
| Char Dham, 5 nights | ₹2 lakh to ₹2.45 lakh | Per person, package |
| Wedding baraat or vidai | ₹3 lakh to ₹8.5 lakh | Per event, reported cases |
Hourly rates from news reports in 2024 and 2025; shuttle fares and packages as published for 2026. Every private trip is quoted on route, positioning and waiting time.
Sources:YourStory/PTI, Apr 2024: normal and election-season helicopter ratesBusiness Today, May 2024: helicopter rates in election seasonCBIC Circular 234/28/2024-GST on helicopter servicesETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli faresNewsX, 4 Sep 2026: Vaishno Devi helicopter fare from 1 NovemberPawan Hans: Do Dham charter package (PDF)Indian Holiday: same-day Do Dham by helicopterHeritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter costETV Bharat, Apr 2025: helicopter baraat in Nuh, HaryanaPatrika, Mar 2026: bride's vidai by helicopter in Jhalawar
Airports, helipads and your own site
- Airports and licensed helipads need no extra paperwork beyond the operator's flight plan.
- At a private site, the landowner gives consent; on public land, the land's custodian issues an NOC.
- The operator files Form H with the district at least 4 days ahead. The District Magistrate is intimated, not asked to approve, and can refuse only on law and order or safety grounds.
- A temporary landing area needs about 30 m x 30 m of open ground, an H marking, a wind sock, fire cover and crowd control 80 to 100 m back.
- Dropping flower petals needs written permission from the District Magistrate or Commissioner of Police for each event.
- Flights run in daylight; mountain routes such as Kedarnath also stop in bad weather.
Sources:Ministry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Sewa FAQMinistry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Disha guide for district administrationsDGCA CAR Section 4 Series B Part II: temporary helicopter landing areasAircraft Rules 1937, Rule 26 on dropping articlesETV Bharat, 5 Feb 2026: Char Dham Yatra preparations and flight cuts
Helicopter rides by city
Joyrides and short transfers around Mumbai.
Helicopter rides and city transfers in Bangalore.
Helicopter rides from Pune.
Helicopter rides in Chennai.
Helicopter rides around Delhi.
Private helicopter charter from Mumbai.
Helicopters on Indian charter permits
The most common helicopters on Indian non-scheduled permits. Each page shows how many fly, from which cities, and who operates them.
Helicopter operators in India
Licensed NSOP operators with the largest helicopter fleets on the DGCA list. 65 operators fly helicopters in India.
36 helicopters: Airbus AS365 Dauphin, Sikorsky S-76, Bell 407
26 helicopters: Bell 412, Leonardo AW169, Airbus H125
16 helicopters: Airbus H145, Leonardo AW139, Bell 412
10 helicopters: Bell 412, Bell 407, Airbus H125
9 helicopters: Airbus H160, Airbus H125, Bell 407
7 helicopters: Airbus H125, Airbus H130, Bell 206L LongRanger
5 helicopters: Sikorsky S-76, Airbus H160, Airbus AS365 Dauphin
5 helicopters: Robinson R44, Leonardo AW109
5 helicopters: Airbus H125, Airbus H130
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistWhat is the helicopter booking price in India?+
About ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per flying hour for a single-engine helicopter and ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh for a twin-engine one, plus 18% GST. Shared shuttles cost less per seat, for example ₹6,390 return from Sersi to Kedarnath in 2026.
Helicopter ka price kitna hai?+
Kiraye par helicopter lagbhag ₹80,000 se ₹3 lakh prati ghanta padta hai, model ke hisaab se, GST alag. Kedarnath shuttle ka 2026 kiraya ₹6,390 se ₹12,762 return hai.
How do I book a helicopter?+
For Kedarnath or Hemkund shuttles, use IRCTC HeliYatra; for Vaishno Devi, the Shrine Board. For a private helicopter, tell us the date, pickup, drop and passengers, and we quote licensed operators.
Can a helicopter land anywhere?+
Only at an airport, a helipad, or a prepared site of about 30 m x 30 m with the landowner's consent and four days' notice to the district.
How many people fit in a helicopter?+
Single-engine helicopters carry up to six passengers, twin-engine ones up to about eleven, and a Mi-172 up to 26, subject to weight.
Is GST charged on helicopter booking?+
Yes: 18% on a private charter, and 5% on seat-share services such as pilgrimage shuttles.
Can I book a private helicopter to Kedarnath?+
Yes, from Dehradun, as a same-day trip or package. Under the 2026 rules, charter passengers change to the shuttle at Sersi or Phata.
Do helicopters fly at night in India?+
Charter helicopters generally fly in daylight; mountain routes such as Kedarnath run from sunrise to sunset only.
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.YourStory/PTI, Apr 2024: normal and election-season helicopter rates
- 2.Business Today, May 2024: helicopter rates in election season
- 3.CBIC Circular 234/28/2024-GST on helicopter services
- 4.ETV Bharat, 2 Apr 2026: DGCA guidelines and 2026 heli fares
- 5.IRCTC HeliYatra, the official Kedarnath and Hemkund shuttle booking portal
- 6.Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, official site
- 7.Ministry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Disha guide for district administrations
- 8.Heritage Aviation, Apr 2026: Char Dham by helicopter cost
- 9.Pawan Hans: Do Dham charter package (PDF)
- 10.NewsX, 4 Sep 2026: Vaishno Devi helicopter fare from 1 November
- 11.eUttaranchal: Badrinath heli services
- 12.Zee News, Jun 2026: Baltal and Pahalgam routes declared no-fly zones
- 13.Indian Holiday: same-day Do Dham by helicopter
- 14.ETV Bharat, Apr 2025: helicopter baraat in Nuh, Haryana
- 15.Patrika, Mar 2026: bride's vidai by helicopter in Jhalawar
- 16.Ministry of Civil Aviation: Heli-Sewa FAQ
- 17.DGCA CAR Section 4 Series B Part II: temporary helicopter landing areas
- 18.Aircraft Rules 1937, Rule 26 on dropping articles
- 19.ETV Bharat, 5 Feb 2026: Char Dham Yatra preparations and flight cuts
Tell us where the helicopter needs to go.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.