POP, the new low-cost, long-haul airline, is aiming to be the only current operator of non-stop flights between the UK and two of India’s key secondary cities - Amritsar (Punjab) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
The Punjabi and Gujarati communities in both the UK and India have a long history of maintaining strong family connections, and weddings in particular are occasions when special efforts are made by families to come together. By offering low-cost, non-stop flights between the UK and Indian-based branches of these families, POP will be making it much easier for guests to attend such occasions in whichever country they are held.
In addition, these new routes will make it far more practical for brides and grooms living in the UK to fulfil the widely held ambition to make a pre-wedding trip to India to buy their traditional costumes.
POP is currently engaged in a rewards-based crowdfunding campaign to launch the airline which involves the offer of Gold Passes, each priced at £500, which come with eight VIP benefits. POP will offer the first 7000 people to receive a Gold Pass this first benefit: a return seat to any POP destination; with the next 3000 people being offered an off-peak return seat. Of the other benefits that will be of particular interest to UK Punjabis and Gujaratis planning a traditional family wedding, free and unlimited name changes on all tickets bought with a Gold Pass and an extra luggage allowance of a third 23kg suitcase are especially attractive.
A further significant aspect of POP (an acronym for ‘People Over Profit’) is its ‘caring capitalist’ business model. The airline will be donating a minimum of 51% of its profits to charities in both the UK and India. This is a commitment that POP’s directors believe will resonate strongly with the Punjabi and Gujarati communities in both countries. By flying with POP, they will be contributing to the improvement of their communities in both countries.
(Nino) Navdip Singh Judge, Chairman and Principal of POP, commented: “By operating the only current non-
stop flights between the UK and Amritsar and Ahmedabad, we will be opening up new opportunities for the Punjabi and Gujarati communities in both countries, including those planning to hold traditional weddings.”
According to the 2011 Census, there are approximately 3.5 million Asians in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including some 1.52 million of Indian origin who represent 2.2% of the total UK population. Religiously diverse - 56% Hindu, 30% Sikh and 13% Muslim - British Indians originate primarily from the two states that POP will be serving - Punjab and Gujarat.
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