Air Deccan (DKN, Nashik) and Air Odisha (Bhubaneshwar) signed a partnership which will see the airlines combining their operations, training, aircraft procurement and maintenance, leases and other expenses in order to improve efficiency, India's PTI agency reported.
Under the terms of the partnership, Air Odisha will draw on Air Deccan's expertise. The latter carrier was founded this year but is a new iteration of the first Indian LCC set up in 2003, Air Deccan (2003).
"We have combined to get economy of scale in various areas including flight operations and training. Air Deccan which has experience and expertise in running an airline will handle all that at the back end," Air Deccan chief captain G.R. Gopinath told PTI.
Air Deccan launched operations on December 23 and currently serves Nashik-Mumbai International, Mumbai-Jalgaon, and Nashik-Pune routes, using Beech 1900D equipment. Its parent carrier Deccan Charters (Bengaluru International) was one of five operators awarded route authorities during the first round of India's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) or alternatively Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN). In total, Air Deccan received thirty-four route authorities during that round.
Air Odisha was founded in 2012 but until now only operated passenger charter flights. The carrier still awaits a permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which will allow it to launch regular operations under the UDAN scheme. According to PTI, the carrier expects to receive this nod in mid-January. Air Odisha received fifty route authorities during the first round of UDAN. According to the carrier's website, it plans to use Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Grand Caravan aircraft.
