Air Deccan

Based in Bangalore, Deccan (formerly called Air Deccan) is India's first low-cost carrier. A wholly owned subsidiary of Deccan Aviation, Air Deccan in India has been growing rapidly since it began its operations on 23rd August 2003 with a single flight and 4 destinations. Now it has over 300 Air Deccan flights to 61 destinations with a fleet of 40 aircraft. Air Deccan flights entry into the domestic aviation sector has spurred the evolution and growth of many other similar airlines like Kingfisher Airlines, SpiceJet, Indigo and GoAir. It has forced behemoths like Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara to slash their fares. Part of Deccan Aviation Private Limited, India's largest private heli-charter company, Air Deccan started out with regular scheduled flights from Bangalore to Mangalore and Hubli.


The Managing Director of the company is Captain GR Gopinath, who is also one of the founders. Air Deccan Airlines undoubtedly deserves the credit for revolutionizing air travel in India and was the first airline in India to link second-rung cities like Hubli, Madurai, Visakhapatnam, Nashik, Belgaum, Gwalior, Pathankot and many others. Deccan went public in May 2006.



It operates a range of aircraft including Airbus A320-200, ATR 42-320, ATR 42-500, and ATR 72-212A. It has acquired 30 Airbus A320s, which will be deployed starting 2007.

The main base of Deccan is HAL Bangalore International Airport, with a secondary hub at Chennai International Airport, Chennai. Air Deccan's vision is to empower every Indian citizen to fly. Its mission is to demystify air travel in India by providing reliable, low-cost and safe travel to the common man. The number of passengers carried by Air Deccan India has been constantly increasing from 0.4 million passengers during the financial year 2003-2004 to 9 million passengers during the financial year 2006-2007.

On December 19, 2007, the Premier domestic airline Kingfisher and low-cost carrier Deccan decided to merge and operate as a single entity from April 1, 2008. Post-merger, Deccan will be renamed as 'Kingfisher Airlines'. After the merger, Vijay Mallya will takeover as chairman and CEO of the new Company and Captain Gopinath will be its vice-chairman.

Air Deccan

No. 35 / 2, Cunningham Road, Opposite Canara Bank, Bangalore -560 052.	Chennai: No. 47, Deshbandhu Plaza, Whites Road, Royapettah, (Near Satyam Theatre), Chennai 600 -014.
Delhi: G-11, G Block Market, Hauz Khas, New Delhi -110 016.	Kolkata: Unit No. D, Ground Floor, Landmark Building, 228-A, A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata - 700 020.
Mumbai Sales & Marketing, 1st Floor, Zeba Apartment, Opp Globus Theatre, Above Mamamiya Restaurant, Hill Road, Bandra (West) Mumbai - 400 050

Last Updated on 03 October 2011