G. R. Gopinath

Captain G. R. Gopinath (Kannada:ಗೋರೂರು ಗೋಪಿನಾಥ ನಾಯಕ ), the Managing Director of Air Deccan is a graduate of the National Defence Academy and has served the Indian Army. He is considered the father of low cost air travel in India. He created a whole new market when he launched India's first low cost airline, Air Deccan.

Capt G R Gopinath or Gopi as he is affectionately called was born in a remote village of Hassan, Karnataka. Starting his studies in a village school, he completed his further schooling at Sainik (military) School, Bijapur. Thereafter he joined the distinguished National Defence Academy and later graduated from the Indian Military Academy as a commissioned officer in the Indian Army. He then went on to serve the Army for eight years.

Sometime in 1995, the Govt. of India started the reforms process by encouraging entrepreneurship. This inspired the entrepreneur in him to identify the tremendous potential Helicopter Charter had in India. Along with an old Army friend he decided to start a private sector commercial helicopter service in 1996. Starting with just one helicopter, today Deccan Aviation boasts of 10 (Ten) Helicopters and two charter jets operating from eight major locations criss-crossing the entire length of the country. This company is India’s most reputed private Air Charter Company with a presence now in Srilanka also.

Understanding the needs of this segment, Capt Gopinath decided to start the first Low Cost, No Frills Airline of India. Launched on 25th August 2003, Air Deccan revolutionized air travel in India. With a vision to connect hitherto unconnected parts of India, Air Deccan today connects many remote parts of the country where no other airline had operated. The airline is operating close to 236 flights a day connecting 55 destinations. As part of its expansion plans, the airline has signed for 60 brand new Airbus and 32 ATRs. As a result a total of 80 aircraft will be acquired with one aircraft being inducted every month for the next 80 months. Not one to be effected by the instant success and recognition Capt Gopinath still remains the affable and easily approachable person that he always was, relentlessly pursuing his dream of enabling every Indian to Fly.

The French government has bestowed the award of Chevalier de la legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) on Capt G.R Gopinath, Chairman, Air Deccan. The award is a recognition of Capt. Gopinath’s contribution to the development of Indo-French cooperation in the field of aviation.

The award was conferred upon Capt. Gopinath by H.E the French Ambassador, Mr Dominique GIRARD on Saturday 28th April 2007 at the Alliance Française de Bangalore

Recipient of several awards such as the ‘Rajyotsava Award’ by the Government of Karnataka, ‘Personality of the Decade Award’ instituted by KG Foundation , ‘Editors Choice Award’ by the Indian Express Trade and Tourism Awards and “Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial Award” by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Capt. Gopinath is hailed to have revolutionized air travel in India .

He currently lives in Bangalore with his wife and 2 daughters, Pallavi and Krithika.