Did Deccan Founder Capt Gopinath Change the Aviation Scenario for Good or Bad?

Was driving through on a busy road when I saw a few old stickers on a Travel Agents Shop Glass front. They read:

Air Sahara, Emotionally Yours

Air Deccan, Simplifly

A rush of thoughts passed through my mind. Thanks to Air Deccan started by Capt GR Gopinath, I travelled for  the first time by air on a One Rupee ticket. Though the taxes at 221 which resulted in a total amount paid to 222 pinched a bit and appeared ‘grossly unjustified’ when compared to actual ticket amount, I wondered, what the heck. Its not a big amount to shell out for experience flying by a Commercial Aircraft for the first time in life.

When I boarded the flight, I was actually wondering if something on the ticket will indicate the price at which we got the ticket and that it will prompt the air hostesses to force us to sit in some cramped corner or may let us sit once all other “full price” customers have taken seat. Thankfully nothing of that sort happened and the entire experience was a pleasant and a unique one.

I too joined the long list of admirers of Air Deccan and its concept which basically revolved around making flying so affordable that many more people can start thinking of flying instead of travelling by train and in the process expand the market to never before or never imagined proportions. Well, it did and he will remain a legend for what he pioneered. Yet, his company NEVER MADE A PROFIT, cash or on net basis for as long as it ran. Eventually he sold out his company to Kingfisher Airlines at a hefty premium and valuation and cashed out of the passenger airlines business altogether. He did get into the sector again with Air courier business model and also got a seed investment from Reliance but that too folded without a whimper or anyone noticing. This time he was not as lucky and could not perhaps gauge winds or else he would have surely sold it out to some one else. (Do read “Bigger Fool Theory” article that I have written elsewhere at rodinhoods). As I write this he has entered the Aviation Sector for the third time starting a regional airline at Gujarat!!

However what he did and pioneered has done good or bad either to the passengers or the aviation industry is a matter of debate. Well Good to the passengers and the sector will have many supporters and reasons. So let me list out why it was a bad move both for the passengers and the sector.

For the Sector

 The aviation sector and the aviation market both were very small and elitist. But then they were making profits. Today, both are very large. The Indian skies are full of aircrafts. But then a number of them are leased not bought. That means they don’t even belong here. The companies are bleeding and not been able to pay for salaries and fuels. Employees striking, oil companies not giving fuel and flights cancelling, with such problems on the head, I always wonder how much the management is able to concentrate on all important aircraft safety issues. Since that is one thing where no one is really troubling them, it is but natural that it will be neglected. Human nature, cant help. Hence are we sitting on a time bomb waiting for something to happen before we wake up from the slumber? Recently there was a top level turbulence at Top Government Flight Safety Monitoring organisation and someone was removed when he pointed out just that. So aren’t all these pointing us to something? These are eventually machines. If proper care is not taken, we are only drawing closer to a disaster. All this could have been avoided if there was no bloodbath in the sector. This is one place where too much of competition could be disastrous. Point to ponder.

For the Passenger

 Make merry as long as the party lasts. But then the party is already showing signs of getting over. Flights getting cancelled. Airports turning into something worse than stations. (you need to see Chennai and Kolkata airports to realise, we end up spending night there every time we are returning back to the islands!), prices going through the roof on certain sectors and a general air of uncertainty. These are exactly the same things which we do not like about the train travels and now they are happening here in air travel as well. Wouldn’t it have been better to pay more and have a much pleasant experience? Isn’t that the first reason why we travel by air at the first place?

Coming back to what I saw the other day. The times and the signs are ominous. Is “kingfisher Airlines- the King of Good times” going to end up as an old sticker on the Travel agent door some day? I think so though I wish it is not!

 Hi, I am Sanchita and a fond reader, writer of any and everything about E-commerce. I write regularly in my blog,www.gizmobhai.com and am also a wannabe E-com business owner trying to set up and run my own little business website www.indiacod.com