Business Travellers will be able to enjoy non-stop flights between the UK and two of India’s key secondary cities – Amritsar and Ahmedabad – in late 2016, thanks to the rewards-based crowdfunding campaign launched by POP (People Over Profit), a new low-cost, long-haul airline.

Having promised to give back a minimum of 51 percent of its profits to charitable causes in the communities it serves in both countries, POP aims to raise £5m (US$5.67m) for its first-year operation by opening a rewards-based crowdfunding campaign at its website, where supporters can purchase POP Gold Passes, each priced at £500 (US$567).

The first 10,000 Gold Pass holders will receive one free off-peak return seat to any POP destination and will, for the following five years when flying with POP, be entitled to eight VIP benefits both on the ground and in the air. These include extra luggage (a third 23kg suitcase), free and unlimited ticket name changes, priority check in/boarding, extra leg room seats, complimentary meals, free wifi, and the earliest opportunity to purchase the lowest seat fares when released.

As a special ninth Gold Pass VIP benefit, each of the first 7000 people to buy a Gold Pass will have a name of their choice printed on the underside of the aircraft, which collectively will be in the shape of the POP logo.

“This is an opportunity to support a new airline business with a unique proposition,” says (Nino) Navdip Singh Judge, chairman and principal of POP. “We will be the first airline to respond to the emerging demand from the expanding Indian middle class for non-stop flights between the UK and India’s key secondary cities. But more than that, supporters will be funding social change through POP’s philanthropic-giving to community causes, breaking new ground in terms of corporate social responsibility.”

It is anticipated that the first POP flight will depart from London Stansted Airport this year in Q4 2016 to Amritsar, using a 378-seat all-economy Airbus A330-300 aircraft in POP livery. www.flypop.co.uk