Wednesday, May 4 2005 19:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Now you can fly on an aeroplane at Re one!

Air Deccan, the low cost carrier, which now sports the "common man" cartoon of R K Laxman, as its mascot plans to offer tickets priced starting at Re one in the next few days, Air Deccan managing director G R Gopinath said in Bangalore today (May 4, 2005).

He said that a passenger security fee of Rs 221 to be passed on to the authorities will be levied on each ticket.

About four seats will be offered at Re one in every flight and bookings, which open about three months in advance can be made over the Internet or through other delivery mechanisms of the airline.

"We are a people's airline and we will try to keep our costs low so that more people can fly," Gopinath said.

He said that the airline has flown over one-lakh passengers for a ticket price of Rs 500 since launch about 18 months ago, and has 108 flights on 33 routes across the country.

Incidentally, Air Deccan's announcement of dud cheap fares comes days ahead of the launch of rival budget carriers Kingfisher airlines and Royal Airways who will battle it out to tap the booming air passenger market in India.

Gopinath said that the suggestion to offer fares at Re one was made by Laxman, with whom Air Deccan has signed an agreement to use the "common man" mascot for the airline. The cartoonist hails from Mysore district of Karnataka.

Gopinath said that Air Deccan will receive one ATR or an Airbus aircraft each month of the 32 Airbus and 36 ATRs for which it has placed orders.