Deccan rebrands as ‘Simplifly’

Millennium Aero Singapore completes ownership transition

Sri Lankan domestic airline and helicopter operator Deccan Aviation Lanka (DAL) has changed its name to Millennium Airlines Ltd. In a statement, the company said that the external livery of all aircraft and helicopters operated by Millennium have been rebranded with the ‘Simplifly’ logo, the trade name under which the airline will operate going forward.

In November 2011, Singapore based Millennium Aero entered the Sri Lankan airline segment with the acquisition of the stake held by Deccan Charters India in its Sri Lankan unit. The move saw the exit of Bangalore based Deccan led by Indian aviation mogul Captain G.R. Gopinath.

“With the corporate name change, the airline has now completed its transition to reflect its new ownership, and its new vision for the future of internal air transport in Sri Lanka, while the new Simplifly branding gives meaning to what we do best – flying guests in exquisite comfort, ease and safety to any part of the island,” stated Suren Mirchandani, Vice Chairman.

After starting out with a single helicopter in 2004, Simplifly inducted a Beech 1900 to operate the Colombo-Jaffna route and regional destinations such as Male, before replacing it in 2011 with a GA8 Airvan commuter aircraft from GippsAero Australia. The airline operates helicopters to all parts of the country and flies to all local airports. In addition to its own operations, Simplifly also manages aircraft on behalf of corporate owners.

Simplifly is Sri Lanka’s leading internal airline and the only airline in the country to offer helicopters, planes and seaplanes, a capability unmatched by any other domestic air provider.

In operation since 2004, Simplifly has the largest selection of aircraft, the most experience and a reputation second to none in the industry. Simplifly operates a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, a GA8 airvan, a Cessna 206 amphibian aircraft and will be inducting a Bell 407 VIP helicopter in the months ahead.

Simplifly flies high-end tourists and corporate travellers to all airports, waterdromes and any place where a helicopter can land.