Air Deccan, a unit of Deccan Aviation Pvt Ltd, plans to start operations in the western region from April 26.

The airline will operate Ahmedabad-Mumbai, Ahmedabad-Bhuj, Vadodara-Mumbai, Bhavnagar-Mumbai, Mumbai-Belgaum, Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-Kolhapur and Kolhapur-Belgaum flights.

"Our mission is to keep our fares low and keep lowering them with time. To achieve this, we have eliminated standard airline frills like on-board catering, business lounges, upper class seats and other promotional services. We call ourselves the 'Udipi hotel' of the airline industry and the cost saves are passed on directly to the customers in the form of low fares," G R Gopinath, managing director, Air Deccan, said on Thursday.

Air Deccan has a strong presence in south India. "We started with two flights in August last year and operate around 40 flights daily at present. After expanding in the western region, we will target the north and then the east," said Gopinath.

The Ahmedabad-Mumbai travel will cost Rs 2,200 compared with Rs 3,498 charged by other airlines. Vadodara-Mumbai will cost Rs 1,900 (other airlines Rs 3,154), Bhavnagar-Mumbai Rs 1,800 (other airlines Rs 3,185) and Mumbai-Goa Rs 2,080 (other airlines Rs 3,111), the company said.

"We assure that our low fares come with high standards of flight safety. We have very stringent safety regulations in place, approved by the regulatory authorities," said Gopinath.

The company is also planning to start flights from places where no other airlines operate. Its Ahmedabad-Bhuj flight will charge Rs 2,200, Mumbai-Kolhapur Rs 2,250 and Kolhapur-Belgaum Rs 999. Its Mumbai-Belgaum flight, charging Rs 2,250, is already operational.

"The company has a modern fleet of 48-seater ATR aircraft. ATR is an European joint venture between Alenia and Eads. ATR 42 has become a reference aircraft among the airlines around the world by offering a safe, easy to maintain and comfortable aircraft operating on the regional market with the best economics in the on short haul sectors," said Gopinath.

The company is connecting all important destinations of south India including, Belgaum, Hubli, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada with Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.