The coronavirus pandemic looks to have claimed its first victim in India’s aviation market.
Regional airliner Air Deccan announced it has ceased all operations until further notice and all employees have been stood down without pay.
"In view of the recent global and domestic issues and subsequent directive by the Indian regulator Air Deccan has no choice but to cease its operations until further notice," Air Deccan CEO Arun Kumar Singh said in a letter to employees.
"All existing employees of Air Deccan are being put on sabbatical without pay with immediate effect."
All Indian airline operations have been grounded until April 14 as India is in the middle of a three-week lockdown.
At one time one of India’s largest low cost carriers, Air Deccan currently has a fleet of four Beechcraft planes serving regional routes in western India.
Singh says the airline hopes to restart operations as soon as it can but that looks unlikely in the short term.
Trade group FICCI says several Indian airlines are fast running out of cash reserves and close to bankruptcy.
Virtually all local airlines have cut pay or laid workers off, or both in many cases.
