Baramati (Maharashtra): The Deccan brand, once synonymous with lost cost flying in India, will cease to exist after its merger with the Vijay Mallya promoted Kingfisher Airlines, which will takeoff for international destinations by August.

"Deccan will cease to exist because after the merger there will be only one company and that will be Kingfisher Airlines," UB Group chief and Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya told reporters here.

He said the Karnataka High court convened meeting for the merger of Kingfisher Airlines (KA) and Deccan would be held on on April 17, following which it would gear up to fly abroad.

"On March 17, the Director General of Civil Aviation has given Kingfisher approval to fly abroad from August 28," Mallya said.

KA had acquired 26 per cent stake in Capt Gopinath promoted Air Deccan for Rs 550 crore last year and made an open offer for 20 per cent stake taking its holding to 46 per cent.

Mallya's latest statement comes contrary to earlier position maintained by Gopinath, who said the two airlines would operate as separate entities even when the two were merged.

After the takeover by Kingfisher, Deccan had rebranded itself as Simplifly Deccan and surrendered major metro routes for the full service sister concern.
Source : PTI