Accenture to advise on integration of Deccan, Kingfisher

BANGALORE: Air Deccan, the low-cost carrier, which saw the UB Group picking up stakes in the company earlier this year, today said it has appointed Accenture, a management consultancy firm, to study the possibility of integrating the operations of both the entities.

"We have appointed Accenture to study and advise us on the matter," Deccan Aviation Executive Chairman Captain Gopinath told reporters here on the sidelines of the launch of the airline's partnership with Oxigen.

The study would look into areas like integrating the manpower and elimination of duplication of manpower or services. Effective deployment of personnel and looking at the services offered at various points would be looked into.

The report, expected to be submitted in six weeks, would also look into the feasibility of hiving helicopter charter business from the airline business.

The charter business has a fleet of 10 helicopters and 'two fix wing' aircraft deployed across eight bases and covers a range of activities like helicopter tourism, aerial coverage of sports events, heli skiing and rapeling, logistic support for offshore oil exploration, power line survey, film production among others.

The new options like digital mapping and others for the business would be looked into. The report would keep in mind the different entitites of the group and their business models while making recommendations, he said.

Earlier this year, the UB Group had acquired 26 percent stake in Deccan Aviation for Rs 550 crore. The group has now increased its stake to 46 percent by buying shares in an open offer.