Kingfisher Red News

Air Deccan is now Kingfisher Red New Delhi, August 30, 2008: Captain Gopinath-founded Air Deccan is now history. UB Group chief Vijay Mallya, who bought around 50% stake in the budget carrier, has rebranded the airline as "Kingfisher Red" from Friday (August 29).This removes the name Deccan from the brand as after taking over, Mallya has changed the name to Simplifly Deccan. This change comes exactly five years after the LCC was founded.

While the merged company will be called Deccan Aviation to be entitled to go abroad, the brand will be Kingfisher, under which there will be a LCC - Kingfisher Red - and the full service carrier. The company's name is likely to be changed to Kingfisher once all legal formalities are completed, possibly within this year.

The Deccan brand will remain in three forms - Deccan Express and Logistics that has ordered 10 aircraft and Deccan Budget Hotels that will set up budget hotels across India.

The third company - Deccan Charters that deals in helicopters and small planes - is being hived off from Deccan Aviation and will get a separate air operator's permit.

Mallya will use Kingfisher Red as the low cost carrier of his group and the level of service will be improved majorly. The full service carrier will fly on premium domestic and international routes.