Date:03/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/08/03/stories/2005080301180700.htm

Back Rains: Air Deccan puts revenue loss at Rs 75 lakh/day

Our Bureau

Bangalore , Aug. 2

THE torrent that wreaked havoc on Mumbai life has cost land and air logistics dear. Air Deccan, for one, on Tuesday said the rain had caused revenue loss of Rs 75 lakh a day for the airline.

Following the advice of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the number of flights to Mumbai was cut by half.

Aircraft bound for Mumbai had to hover over the city for 30 minutes and then diverted to Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, or go back.

"This had a ripple effect wherever the same aircraft had to fly elsewhere.

It is a huge revenue loss to the airlines," the Air Deccan Managing Director, Capt G.R. Gopinath, told reporters here.