Air Deccan, the common man's airlines, is no more associated with its founder Captain Gopinath. After Vijay Mallya, UB Group chief, secured around 50% stake in the budget carrier, the airline has been renamed as “Kingfisher Red” w.e.f from 29 Aug' 08. With this, the name Deccan has been removed from the brand and this change has taken place exactly five years after the LCC (Low Cost Carrier) was founded.
On 29 August, 10 am onwards, the Deccan website announced that the airline is now 'Kingfisher' and the tickets will be sold on the latter's website with the flight code IT as Deccan's code DN is being withdrawn. The merged company is known as Deccan Aviation, which is entitled to go abroad. The brand is Kingfisher, under which there's a LCC - Kingfisher Red - and the full service carrier. Once all legal procedure is completed, the company’s name will probably change to Kingfisher.
Speaking on the occasion of re-branding, Captain Gopinath told that consolidation has been done to defend the interest of investors, vendors and employees. He further underlined the brand Deccan will continue and its model will live through Kingfisher Red and other LCCs. The Deccan brand will live in three forms - Deccan Express and Logistics, Deccan Budget Hotels, and Deccan Charters. Of these, Deccan Express and Logistics, and Deccan Budget Hotels will be 100% owned by Captain Gopinath, while Deccan Charters will be co-owned by Captain Gopinath and Vijay Mallya.
All the three companies have big expansion plans. Deccan Express and Logistics has ordered 10 aircraft and Deccan Budget Hotels will set up budget hotels across India. Deccan Charters that deals in helicopters and small planes — is being hived off from Deccan Aviation and would get a separate air operator’s permit.
