Air Deccan

India's first discount airline, Air Deccan, was launched in the summer of 2003 out of Bangalore International Airport. In its own words, Air Deccan's goal is to "demystify air travel in India" by offering consistently safe and affordable airfares to the common man. By stripping away the unnecessary (and often expensive) amenities associated with elite airline travel, Air Deccan encourages its passengers to "simply fly".

Locals may remember Air Deccan's uncertain beginnings when business prospects weren't looking so good. On the airline's maiden flight, the aircraft caught fire and created a spectacle for local and national press agencies. However, Deccan has brushed off this debacle with remarkable finesse and proceeded to grow into a formidable low-cost airline.

Air Deccan currently facilitates 350 domestic flights to 64 different destinations in India. Its fleet consists of 20 Airbus A320s with another 20 various aircraft. Current orders requesting more Airbus A320 demonstrate the company's commitment to massive expansion in the coming years.

Prices onboard Air Deccan flights are kept to a minimum by streamlining unnecessary amenities furnished by full-service airlines. Quick turnaround time keeps planes in the air and therefore decreases wasted time on the ground. By eliminating business and first-class seating, passenger capacity is increased as much as 20 per cent. Finally, paper tickets are not issued and all reservations are handled over the internet. This cuts down on printing and manpower costs so that less of the ticket price is used for bureaucratic and administrative purposes.

During its quick rise to success, Air Deccan has been plagued by bad press and a little bit of notoriety. Recently, CNN broadcast a story accusing Air Deccan of intentionally slowing down the check-in process and even purposely overbooking flights. The company denies any intentionality in this, stating that a recent change of their booking procedures led to some problems that have since been corrected.