Simplifly Deccan
Simplifly Deccan, once Air Deccan, was India’s first low-cost airline. Founded by G. R. Gopinath and based in Bengaluru, it aimed to make air travel affordable for the middle class and built a large domestic network from seven bases.
Air Deccan began on 25 August 2003 with a Bengaluru–Hubli flight using two ATR 42s. It followed a no-frills model: one economy cabin, extra charges for meals and cancellations, and no refunds for missed flights. Reservations were handled through travel agents, the internet, and call centers, and tickets were not printed; passengers downloaded them themselves. The airline also used onboard and airport advertising to boost revenue and was the first in India to run a fully web-enabled reservation system.
The carrier grew rapidly. In 2004 it added Airbus A320s, and by 2006 it had about 30 aircraft flying to 55 destinations from seven bases, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad (a Thiruvananthapuram base opened in 2006 but closed in 2008). Air Deccan became the second-largest Indian airline by 2007, with strong growth in 2006–07.
Mergers and rebranding followed. In 2007 United Breweries Group bought a stake, and Air Deccan was renamed Simplifly Deccan in October 2007, adopting Kingfisher’s livery. In 2008 the airlines merged, with the combined business moving to Kingfisher codes and reservation systems. Simplifly Deccan was renamed Kingfisher Red, and its headquarters remained in Bengaluru.
The fleet by September 2007 included around 40 aircraft, including ATRs and A320s. The airline’s low-cost, high-volume model helped popularize air travel in India and even inspired films such as Soorarai Pottru and its Hindi remake Sarfira. Simplifly Deccan ceased independent operations on 29 August 2008, after which the brand continued as part of Kingfisher Red.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:49 (CET).