31 July 2006
Dubai: Low-cost airline Air Deccan has upstaged its nearest competitor, government-owned Indian airline, to become the second-largest air carrier in the country.
Air Deccan garnered a market share of 21.2 per cent in June, a rise of 1.8 per cent since May 2005. Jet Airways is the largest domestic carrier in India.
Captain G.R. Gopinath, Managing Director of Air Deccan, said, "Air Deccan, with its unconventional business model, brought the luxury of flying to the common man in India. Dynamic pricing with wide connectivity, rapid expansion of fleet and other innovative steps enabled us in becoming the second-largest airline in India in such a short time.
"This clearly indicates the appetite the country has for low cost carriers, and, if we were to go by the current rate of growth, it won't be long before we become the largest people carrier with the largest fleet offering the largest connectivity and the lowest fares."
On its expansion plans, a company spokesperson told Gulf News, "Air Deccan flies to 55 destinations today with a fleet of 35 aircrafts (15 Airbus and 20 ATRs) and by 2007, we plan to connect 70 destinations. Air Deccan has 265 daily flights now and in the next five years, we plan to increase it to 600."
Air Deccan plans to induct at least one aircraft a month for the next five years. However it is not planning a codeshare agreement in the near future.
On whether the airline is planning any special package for travellers from the Middle East, the spokesperson said, "No, not specifically. We try to connect the non-metros to the main metros, by which we are able to bring passengers from smaller towns to be able to connect international flight from the bigger cities. There are a number of flights to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Mumbai airports from which passengers connect to flights to the Middle East."
Ready reckoner: Pioneer in Indian low-cost aviation
By Chinmay Chaudhuri
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
