Deccan Aviation turns seven

Deccan Aviation Lanka celebrated seven years of active flying in Sri Lankan skies with the introduction of the eight-seater GA8 Airvan aircraft and plans to expand its fleet in the coming months in response to the demand for domestic flights.

Deccan Aviation Lanka CEO/Director Denham Schokman next to the helicopter

A Deccan representative handing over wet towels to guests before their flight

With the introduction of the Airvan, Deccan Aviation Lanka steps into its eighth year as the only authorised company in Sri Lanka to operate both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Although Sri Lanka’s domestic aviation sector is yet in its infancy, Deccan Aviation has assumed a pioneering role in standardising and improving the sector in Sri Lanka. The company’s growth through the years is a reflection of its steady but gradual progress through some of Sri Lanka’s difficult political and economic times.

At the inception, domestic aviation in Sri Lanka was confined to flights between Colombo and Jaffna, with Deccan launching services the company offered a vital infrastructure facility, linking different parts of the country and ensuring the delivery of services to many organisations and international travellers.

On 26 July 2004, Deccan took to the skies for its maiden flight in a Bell 206 BIII JetRanger helicopter. The flight, covering a range of 215km, departed from Colombo with four passengers and landed in Welikanda. The first flight marked the commencement of commercial operations of Deccan Aviation as Sri Lanka’s first and only helicopter charter company after a lapse of nine years.

Deccan Aviation Lanka’s plan for its eighth year of operations includes the expansion of both its rotor wing and fixed wing fleet by purchasing and operating new aircraft.

Commenting on the progress of the company, CEO/Director Denham Schokman said: “Domestic aviation was confined only to flights between Colombo and Jaffna at the time Deccan launched operations. We made the country accessible to tourists and investors landing at all destinations. It was a journey filled with challenges with the war, global recession and high fuel cost.

“Today we look back with a deep sense of satisfaction at our growth and unblemished safety record, industry and guest endorsement – evidence of our achievements and testimony to our team’s commitment in delivering the best travel experience in domestic aviation. With the dawn of peace, domestic aviation emerges as the next growth sector. We provide a vital infrastructure service and consider ourselves to be an important element of the economic revival of Sri Lanka.”

Since its humble beginnings, Deccan Aviation has successfully established itself as a reliable, convenient and efficient service provider to local and international passengers. A first step towards recognition as an established and reliable operation was secured when flight departments of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN’s World Food Programme and Doctors without Borders (MSF) audited and approved Deccan to fly their staff to and from the north and east of the country.

These efforts were further enhanced in May 2007 when Deccan launched its fixed wing division with a 17-seater Beechcraft 1900C aeroplane and became the only company to operate both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in Sri Lanka.  This allowed Deccan to offer charter flights connecting Colombo and Jaffna at the height of hostilities between Government forces and the LTTE, offering a frequent flight schedule for passengers who wished to travel to and from Jaffna.

Deccan was also awarded a contract by the ICRC to fly both humanitarian aid staff and cargo between Colombo and Jaffna. Deccan’s flight operations and services under these trying conditions helped cement the company’s reputation as the only aviation company in Sri Lanka to have had uninterrupted flights throughout the war to multiple destinations in the country.

In 2008, Deccan entered into a two-year contract with First Choice UK to fly their flight crew between Colombo and Male. With the dawn of peace, Deccan was well positioned to serve the increase in numbers of tourists visiting the country.

Considered by many guests as the boutique airline of domestic aviation, Deccan takes great care to ensure their staff and processes are geared to ensure the organisation consistently meets and exceeds customer expectations. A majority of the staff at Deccan Aviation is former Sri Lanka Air Force personnel who have had extensive experience and the maturity to handle aircraft in different situations and local conditions.

Deccan has, over the years, made it to the forefront of cultural events hosted in Sri Lanka by partnering for many international festivals such as the Galle Literary Festival in 2011, International Indian Film Academy awards (IIFA) in 2010, Hikka Fest in 2010 and the sponsorship of the Colombo Fashion Week in 2010 and 2011. Its corporate office is located in the heart of the city in Colombo 3 and it also operates a base station in Ratmalana.