Air bp has expanded its operations in India through the joint venture (JV), Air bp-Jio, with a new fuel facility at the brand-new Rajkot International Airport.

Rajkot International airport is an international hub and a greenfield airport at Hirasar in the state of Gujarat, serving the city of Rajkot and the Saurashtra region. Owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), it is capable of handling around 2,800 passengers during peak hours. It is Air bp-Jio's 31st airport location in India.

Air bp-Jio began fuelling operations at Rajkot International airport at the end of September with 575 fuellings completed to date. The JV worked to a tight schedule to secure regulatory approvals and deliver fuelling facilities there in good time for the airport to officially begin operations on 10 September, after it was inaugurated on 27 July by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. This represents phase one of Air bp-Jio's new facility at Rajkot International and follows the Indian Government's decision to develop the airport into a large international airport to keep pace with demand.

India has the third largest domestic aviation market globally and is poised to become the third largest and one of the fastest growing aviation markets after the US and China. The country is currently home to some 140 operational airports. It is anticipated that this figure will grow to 220 in the near term, which represents a rapid expansion up from 74 airports in 2014.

"Air bp-Jio excelled in making the fuel station ready in a short space of time with all regulatory compliances and approvals. The successful commencement of flight operations at Rajkot International airport was very much dependent on Air bp-Jio's service. The team worked hard and met the target, as promised," says airport director Diganta Borah.

Earlier this year, Air bp-Jio was voted the best fuel provider in India by the International Council of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. This underlines its efforts to provide an enhanced and more efficient fuelling service in India with a strategy focused on safety, on-time performance, digitised fuelling services and supply reliability. The Air bp-Jio JV aims to be the partner of choice for all stakeholders in the aviation fuel business in the country.