The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Air Deccan launches daily flight services to Kochi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Air Deccan launches daily flight services to Kochi

Special Correspondent

Commercial operations to begin from today

ALL SET TO FLY: G.R. Gopinath on the Air Deccan inaugural flight from Kochi to Bangalore at the Cochin International Airport, Nedumbasserry, on Monday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: Air Deccan, the country's low-cost carrier, on Monday launched its services to Kerala with daily flights from Bangalore to Kochi. Commercial operations to Kochi will commence from Tuesday.

The Air Deccan flight (72-seater) will leave Bangalore at 2.45 p.m. and reach Kochi at 4 p.m. The return flight will take off from Kochi at 4.25 p.m. and reach Bangalore at 5.40 p.m. The fare is Rs. 2,400. Air Deccan will introduce flights from Chennai to Kochi from Wednesday and the fare will be Rs. 2,600.

Speaking at the inaugural function at Kochi, G.R. Gopinath, Managing Director, Air Deccan, said the company has decided to operate flights between Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode via Kochi in the next three months. More than 40 per cent of the travellers in Air Deccan are first time air travellers, he said. The Kerala Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, was present at the function.

Since its operation in August 2003, Air Deccan has carried over two million passengers, covering 37 destinations. The airline has ordered 62 brand new aircraft — 32 Airbus and 30 Air Transport Region (ATR) — which will be delivered over the next five years, he said.

Mr. Gopinath said air connectivity to small towns will help in promoting tourism, and generate employment. "We believe flying should be impulsive, fun and affordable. We offer low prices while maximising value to the passenger and enabling more people to fly," he said.

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