Indian airports now being serviced by Reliance and bp joint venture

Joint venture now operating at 30 airports in India, supporting the world’s third largest aviation market.
Air bp adds 11 new locations in India to its network, and plans to add a further 19 locations in India.

The aviation business of the new joint venture of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and bp has now taken over refueling operations at 30 airports across India. These locations had previously been operated by RIL alone.

RIL and bp announced the start of their new Indian fuels and mobility joint venture, Reliance BP Mobility Limited (RBML), which operates under the Jio-bp brand, in July 2020. bp and RIL expect the venture to grow rapidly to help meet India’s fast-growing demands for energy and mobility, including for aviation fuel.

The international aviation fuel products and services supplier, Air bp has added 11 new locations in India to its international network as part of the joint venture between parent company bp and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), and is working to add the remaining 19. Effective immediately, these 11 locations will serve Air bp’s commercial aviation, general aviation and military customers flying internationally.

Martin Thomsen, CEO, Air bp, commented: “India is a really exciting aviation market for Air bp, and the addition of these locations to our network offers our customers even greater choice when selecting a quality aviation fuel provider. We see the potential for tremendous growth in India over the coming years, and we look forward to working closely with this joint venture and welcoming our customers to their growing network.”

Harish C Mehta, CEO, Reliance BP Mobility Limited added: “With the advent of this joint venture, customers can now experience world-class service combined with the technology-enabled, secure and seamless aviation fuel supplies that bp and Reliance are known for. We are excited about the potential of this partnership for the Indian market and are looking forward to expanding our network footprint together and becoming an integral part of the Indian aviation growth story.”

The fast-growing Indian aviation fuel market is already the world’s third largest in terms of passenger traffic. The joint venture aims to increase its presence from 30 to 45 airports in India in the coming years.

Customers at these locations will benefit from the combination of both companies’ skills and experience, including Air bp’s international technical expertise providing assurance on product quality, training and operational and engineering standards. The joint venture will benefit from RIL’s strong supply position including product from Jamnagar, the largest refinery and petrochemical complex in the world.

Notes to editors:

About Air bp

As the aviation division of bp, Air bp is one of the world’s leading suppliers of aviation fuel products and services. It has been investing in the aviation industry for more than 90 years to keep people flying safely around the world. In 2019 we supplied over 6.7 billion gallons of aviation fuel, fuelling over 7,000 flights per day at over 800 locations in more than

55 countries – that’s more than five planes a minute.

Its customers include commercial airlines, the military, business and private aircraft owners, airports and airfield operators. Air bp has a wide range of services to support its fuel offer including the design, build and operation of fueling facilities, technical consultancy and training, low carbon solutions, the Sterling Card for efficient general aviation refueling and innovative digital platforms to increase efficiency and reduce risk.

bp in India:

With its many investments in India and employing around 7,500 people in the oil, gas and lubricants businesses, bp is one of the largest international energy companies in India. In addition to its gas value chain, retail, aviation fuels and mobility alliance with Reliance Industries Ltd, bp’s activities include Castrol lubricants; oil and gas trading; clean energy projects through investment in Lightsource bp; IT back office activities; a new global business services centre; staffing and training for bp’s global marine fleet; and the recruitment of skilled Indian employees for its global businesses. India Gas Solutions Private Limited, a 50:50 joint venture to source and market gas in India, is also part of bp’s gas value chain alliance with RIL.

About Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)

RIL is India’s largest private sector company, with a consolidated turnover of INR 659,205 crore ($87.1 billion), cash profit of INR 71,446 crore ($9.4 billion), and net profit of INR 39,880 crore ($5.3 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2020. RIL’s activities span hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, retail and digital services. RIL is the top-most ranked company from India to feature in Fortune’s Global 500 list of ‘World’s Largest Corporations’ – currently ranking 106th in terms of both revenues and profits. The company stands 71st in the ‘Forbes Global 2000’ rankings for 2019 – top-most among Indian companies. It ranks 10th among LinkedIn’s ‘The Best Companies to Work For In India’ (2019).

Further Information

Air bp:

Emerald Media, tel. +44 1420 560094 / liz.danner@emeraldmedia.co.uk

Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

Our Number has changed:

What Our Members Say

Join BBGA

British Business and General Aviation Association

What Our Members Say

Join BBGA

British Business and General Aviation Association

Paul Cremer

Jason Hayward

James Moreton

James Hardie

Aoife O’Sullivan

Alex Durand

Marc Bailey

Sarah Towerzey

Heather Gordon

Lindsey Oliver