When I read the news that Kingfisher has decided to close down its low cost operations Kingfisher Red, one part of me was happy , having traveled in many sectors on Red, but then I also felt sad as it was the erstwhile Air Deccan which was getting a final burial.In the list of brands which we have lost in the recent past I have always felt that Air Deccan was on top of the list. To me it showcased the power of pricing and the influence it can have on expanding the overall market in a category. Air Deccan also was a sort of showcase example of power of opening up of the economy and the reflection of the increasing disposable income.
Captain Gopinath , expressed his disappointment at the closing down, but then his suggestion that all domestic should have been Red and international could have been First also goes against Kingfisher's positioning as the 'King of Good Times' . Closing down would also be a factor of the current finacial situation the airline is in. From a branding angle I would have felt that they should have used to Air Deccan name for the low-cost airline and retained the kingfisher as a full service airline. The synergies of combing the two airlines , in terms of ground operations and other logistics could still have made sense.
But then there is another theory where people suggest that acquisition was driven by the urge to start international flights which was restricted to airlines with a minimum years in operations and acquiring Air Deccan gave that status to Kingfisher.
Kingfisher red always seemed like a confused brand- aspiring to be like its flamboyant cousin in the air, but never matched up to it or even to its direct low cost competition.
ReplyDeleteI think,low cost operations is an orchestra that needs a conductor with a different line of thought.. which in India Indigo has mastered.. and having flown both, I would always choose an Indigo flight over a red service, simply because Indigo more or less does what it promises to do.. no frills attached.
As you mentioned, it is the last nail in the coffin of Capt gopinath's Air deccan, where smarter, leaner, better airlines have taken its space!!
@HIGHWAY HIPPIE, yes your observation that other airines like indigo have occupied the space & are doing well, is right, and perhaps time to say goodbye to Deccan..
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