Deccan crosses 15 million passenger mark

Bangalore, Dec 18 (UNI) Deccan, India's first and fastest growing low cost carrier, clocked in another year of impressive passenger growth with the passenger volume crossing 15 million mark.

The airliner also recorded a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in 2007, compared to the passenger volume in 2006, Deccan said in a release here today.

The average load factor had notched up several paces to maintain a record high of 81 per cent from January to July 2007 against the average load factor of 76 per cent in the last calendar year.

This year Deccan had already flown 6.79 million passengers, as against 5.55 million flown between January and December, 2006.

The 5.55 million passengers figure was crossed in September this year, while the 15 million mark was crossed recently.

It was further estimated that by December 31, approximately 7.3 million passengers would have flown this year alone, the release added.

Officiating CEO, Ramki Sundaram said ''we are immensely pleased to reach the 15 million passenger landmark in a short period of four years. The numbers are testimony to our commitment to empowering every Indian to fly and bring us closer to our vision.'' UNI