Deccan airline re-brands as Simplifly

Sri Lankan domestic airline and helicopter operator Deccan Aviation Lanka (DAL) changed its name to Millennium Airlines Ltd., according to a statement released to the media by the company.

The company added 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 byIndian 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, added 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.