Bangalore, May 25: Deccan Aviation Private Limited, the largest private air charter company in the country, will launch its "low-cost" regional airline "Air Deccan" in August, providing connectivity between important towns in the South, a top company official said.
The airline would be the "first low-cost carrier" on the lines of Ryan Air and Easy Jet in Europe and connect all the regional centres in South, DAPL managing director Capt G R Gopinath told reporters here.
DAPL recently inked a pact with Avions De Transport Regional (ATR) in Toulouse in France and finalised the contract to import six ATR-320 48-seater aircraft. The agreement was signed by himself and Jean Luc Establie, director sales Asia-Pacific ATR, Gopinath said.

The contract is for lease of aircraft, training of pilots, engineers and a comprehensive global maintenance arrangement with 24-hour access to critical parts, rotables and engines to ensure the highest standards of despatch reliability to support the scheduled operations.

Four ATR aircraft would arrive in the first week of August. The company has recruited 42 pilots, 15 engineers and 15 airhostesses. The crew will be headed by Capt Rajiv Kothiyal, who test flew the prestigeous light combat aircraft. He will be the chief pilot of the company, Gopinath said.


Bureau Report