MDLR Airlines follows a standard model – small passenger groups, small jets & small cities. But how long will “Jupiter” continue its flight? STEVEN PHILIP WARNER analyses the hiccups and forces at play…
I’ll cut the conversation short (out with the truth?) – the “Jupiter” mentioned here is not the Greek God of the sky and light; it’s the planet Jupiter (remember M-V-E-M-“J”-S-U-N-P?!). Of course, you’d heard of it during your toddler days that it is the “largest” planet in our solar system (it’s 2.5 times bigger than all other planets combined!). Wonder why we’re going on a space travel? Well, here’s something that most have no pin head-sized clue about – this apparently “solid” astronomical giant has “no” land at all and is composed only of gaseous components (hydrogen, helium, methane et al).
As we walked into the Gurgaon office of MDLR Airlines, we found an earthly counterpart of Jupiter. Just like Jupiter, this is the aviation arm of the mammoth Rs.30 billion MDLR Group, a multiMULTI-decades-old renowned infrastructural giant. However, India saw something strange from this much profitable group – a foray into the bleeding general aviation market on March 14, 2007. It surprised well-wishers and critics alike. Why would a profitable real estate developer like MDLR Group venture into an industry which was forecasted to make $1 billion in losses during 2007 and a further $400 million, the year after? Why would MDLR want to dip itself into the river that has (at least till date) washed away profligate dreams of breaking-even for giants like Kingfisher Airlines, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, GoAir et al? He looked confident, the bearded Gopal Goyal, Chairman, MDLR Airlines, as he sat in his dimly-lit office, dressed in a grey shirt as he chokingly uttered (albeit with a smile), “Launching MDLR airlines was my dream, and people go to any heights to achieve their dreams…” “Sapna…” (as Gopal mentions) if we may add, has also smashed-to-smithereens many an “I-wanna-become-an” entrepreneur reverie. Would this mean a cracked-up end-of-the-road for him too?
I’ll cut the conversation short (out with the truth?) – the “Jupiter” mentioned here is not the Greek God of the sky and light; it’s the planet Jupiter (remember M-V-E-M-“J”-S-U-N-P?!). Of course, you’d heard of it during your toddler days that it is the “largest” planet in our solar system (it’s 2.5 times bigger than all other planets combined!). Wonder why we’re going on a space travel? Well, here’s something that most have no pin head-sized clue about – this apparently “solid” astronomical giant has “no” land at all and is composed only of gaseous components (hydrogen, helium, methane et al).
As we walked into the Gurgaon office of MDLR Airlines, we found an earthly counterpart of Jupiter. Just like Jupiter, this is the aviation arm of the mammoth Rs.30 billion MDLR Group, a multiMULTI-decades-old renowned infrastructural giant. However, India saw something strange from this much profitable group – a foray into the bleeding general aviation market on March 14, 2007. It surprised well-wishers and critics alike. Why would a profitable real estate developer like MDLR Group venture into an industry which was forecasted to make $1 billion in losses during 2007 and a further $400 million, the year after? Why would MDLR want to dip itself into the river that has (at least till date) washed away profligate dreams of breaking-even for giants like Kingfisher Airlines, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, GoAir et al? He looked confident, the bearded Gopal Goyal, Chairman, MDLR Airlines, as he sat in his dimly-lit office, dressed in a grey shirt as he chokingly uttered (albeit with a smile), “Launching MDLR airlines was my dream, and people go to any heights to achieve their dreams…” “Sapna…” (as Gopal mentions) if we may add, has also smashed-to-smithereens many an “I-wanna-become-an” entrepreneur reverie. Would this mean a cracked-up end-of-the-road for him too?
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.
An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
and Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
2012 : DNA National B-School Survey 2012
Ranked 1st in International Exposure (ahead of all the IIMs)
Ranked 6th Overall
Zee Business Best B-School Survey 2012
Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri’s Session at IMA Indore
IIPM IN FINANCIAL TIMES, UK. FEATURE OF THE WEEK
IIPM strong hold on Placement : 10000 Students Placed in last 5 year
IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm-Planman Consulting
Professor Arindam Chaudhuri – A Man For The Society….
IIPM: Indian Institute of Planning and Management
IIPM makes business education truly global
Management Guru Arindam Chaudhuri
Rajita Chaudhuri-The New Age Woman
IIPM B-School Facebook Page
IIPM Global Exposure
IIPM Best B School India
IIPM B-School Detail
IIPM Links
IIPM : The B-School with a Human Face
