DECCAN KICKS OFF
AIR WARS, TO CUT FARES 40%
Air Deccan is gearing up to launch a price war on key sectors
such as the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Hyderabad routes, after introducing
its low-frill airline in the south.
The airline is proposing to launch 25 flights on these routes
starting July 1 this year, with fares at a 40-50% discount to
current rates, giving other airlines a run for their money.
While Jet Airways and Air Sahara offer
limited seats on apex fares, Air Deccan will be offering 100%
of its seats on discount rates. According to Gopinath, MD,
Air Deccan, "From July 1, new services on the Delhi-Mumbai
and Delhi-Hyderabad routes will start. We have signed up seven
Airbus carriers - of which four are brand new and three are
less than three-years old - to cater to these routes."
Air Deccan is also planning to add 20
more flights on ATRs (a smaller aircraft) covering Delhi-Ludhiana,
Delhi-Amritsar, Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Agra, Agra-Jaipur, Delhi-Udaipur
sectors.
"The smaller aircraft will be used to connect these routes
at cheap fares," Mr Gopinath said. The airline, which
commenced operations less than a year ago, has so far limited
its operations to the south.
Air Deccan currently flies seven ATR 42
turboprops from its base at Bangalore to cities in south India.
Currently, the airline is focusing on increasing connectivity
with Mumbai and Delhi . The airline will also be launching
flights connecting Mumbai-Kolhapur, Ahmedabad-Bhuj, Mumbai-Surat
etc.
