note
Company was founded as Air Deccan by captain G. R. Gopinath as India's first low cost airline. Air Deccan commenced operations on domestic route from its base at Bangalore to Hubli. Its concept was similar to Ryanair. Airline focused on the segment of population that has never flown. It picked new destinations previously not served by other carriers. Company went public in January 2006.
Air Deccan was loosing money and became an acquisition target. Kingfisher Airlines owned by United Breweries purchased Air Deccan. Kingfisher Airlines merged into Deccan Aviation (holding company of Air Deccan) and renamed it Kingfisher Airlines. India has 5 year hiatus before a new carrier is eligible for international operations and Air Deccan was 2 years older than Kingfisher Airlines. Air Deccan was re-branded Simplifly Deccan which changed in August 2008 to Kingfisher Red - a low cost arm of Kingfisher Airlines.
In October 2011, Kingfisher Airlines chairman and owner Vijay Mallya announced that Kingfisher will close its Kingfisher Red low cost service by March 2012 because there is little cost difference between its main line and low cost operations. Kingfisher has not made profit since its inception in 2005.
founded - demised (age)
August 2003 - March 2012 (9)
headquarters
, Bangalore
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (2)
