The Hindu Business Line : Gopinath now wielding pen

Bangalore, Oct. 15 The man who pioneered the concept of low cost airline in India, Capt G R Gopinath is writing his memoirs which are expected to hit the stands in a couple of months.

It is learnt that the memoirs will narrate behind-the scenes activities which finally led to the takeover of his Deccan Aviation by UB Group’s Kingfisher Airlines and also about those who played a crucial role in influencing Capt Gopinath to give away his dream project.

The memoirs will also narrate how a leading industrialist suddenly came up with a request seeking a fortnight more time on the day the term sheet leading up to that company buying a stake in the airline was about to be signed. The industrialist had apparently sought more time because he wanted to buy a Delhi-based airline at the same time.

But the Deccan Aviation management put its foot down and told him that it will start negotiations with other suitors and if the airline was still available for sale even after 15 days, he could come back with another offer. The memoirs will talk about how Deccan Aviation’s new IT infrastructure for making bookings came unstuck because of heavy loads at a time when the airline’s load factor was as high as 80 per cent. If the IT infrastructure had not broken down, the low cost concept could still be alive.

The airline just could not come out of the situation unscathed as it was losing over Rs 1 crore every day and hence had to immediately find a buyer who had deep pockets. Mr Mallya is learnt to have immediately offered a better price to wean the airline away from stronger suitors which ultimately clinched the deal.

The icing on the cake is of course on how Capt Gopinath launched the airline without putting in his own money and instead gave away stakes in return for investments and about how a village boy managed to set up an airline which changed the Indian aviation landscape forever.

More Stories on : People | Airlines

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page