MAM
EaseMyTrip takes flight with charter deal
MUMBAI: EaseMyTrip.com, one of India’s leading online travel platforms, is spreading its wings. The board has given in-principle approval to acquire a 49 per cent stake in Big Charter, a key player in India’s charter aviation sector.
This sky-high ambition marks EaseMyTrip’s first major foray into the rapidly expanding charter and non-scheduled aviation market, enabling the company to offer more bespoke, premium and flexible air travel options.
India’s charter aviation industry, currently valued at approximately $650.5 million, is projected to soar to $1.14 billion by 2033. This growth is expected to be fuelled by increasing demand for regional connectivity, corporate travel and private flying. Globally, the sector is experiencing exceptional turbulence—the good kind—with projections indicating a market value exceeding $33 billion by 2033.
The proposed acquisition strengthens EaseMyTrip’s position as a comprehensive travel provider, enabling the company to capitalize on high-margin segments. As corporate clients, high-net-worth individuals and event travellers increasingly charter their own course through the skies, EaseMyTrip is positioning itself to cash in on the trend.
By integrating its cutting-edge technology into Big Charter’s existing operations, the company aims to make the booking process smoother than a first-class landing.
Big Charter has established itself as a leader in regional connectivity, serving clients across India. In FY 2023-24, the company generated Rs 128.75 crore (approximately $15.5 million) in revenue, with significant growth potential as demand for regional and charter services continues to climb.
EaseMyTrip chairman & founder Nishant Pitti said: “This partnership is a crucial step toward making charter air travel more accessible across India. By combining EaseMyTrip’s cutting-edge technology with Big Charter’s established expertise, we are poised to revolutionise the way air travel is experienced. The integration of their non-scheduled operator permit (NSOP) operations will allow us to cater to a wider range of premium customers, further solidifying our commitment to driving the growth of India’s charter aviation market.”
Big Charter director Sanjay Mandavia is equally pleased about the deal. “Partnering with EaseMyTrip marks a transformative moment for us. Leveraging EaseMyTrip’s technological expertise and vast customer base will accelerate our growth, expand our reach, and enhance the efficiency of our services,” he notes. “Together, we are positioned to offer a more accessible and seamless travel experience, strengthening our mission to provide affordable, reliable, and high-quality travel options across India.”
With this strategic acquisition, EaseMyTrip is set to become a formidable player in the Indian charter aviation market, offering an expansive suite of travel services. This move not only positions the company for long-term growth but also contributes to bringing accessible and flexible air travel options to more people across the country—ensuring that the sky is certainly not the limit.
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
