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Kingfisher May Start US Flights From City

By siddharth22, Section Development
Posted on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 12:39:41 AM EST

Come 2009 and Kingfisher Airlines may launch direct flights to America from Kolkata. The flights to New York City, Washington, Chicago or Newark could be launched within a year of the airline starting international operations with direct flights between Bangalore and San Francisco as well as Mumbai and New York City sometime mid next year.

Sources in the airline said UB group chairman Vijay Mallya was keen on a US flight from Kolkata, the city he grew up in. "Kolkata is prominent on our international operations radar," said V Raja, airline global sales head, while addressing a press conference in Port Blair on the occasion of launching the inaugural flight between Kolkata and Port Blair.

Though current civil aviation regulations in India allow only carriers with five years domestic operation to fly international, Kingfisher and SpiceJet have requested the government to ease the norm. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel, too, has hinted that it could happen. A group of ministers is currently looking into the proposal.

Raja said the airline expected a nod from the civil aviation ministry early next year.
His confidence stems from the 46% stake that Kingfisher's parent company, UB group, has acquired in leading low-cost carrier Air Deccan.

UB proposes to hike its stake to 51% over a period of time. The carrier, now rechristened Deccan, will be synergised with Kingfisher to act as a single airline from next year with two distinct services.

"With Deccan completing five years in July 2008, Kingfisher can leverage the controlling stake in the airline to bid for rights to fly on international sectors. We are hoping to fly under the Kingfisher banner but if permission does not come by, we will fly with the Deccan logo," Raja explained.

The airline will use the 20 wide-bodied Airbus aircraft A350-800 XWBs, A330-200s, A340-500s and A380 for the long-haul, non stop flights. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in April next year.

"Kingfisher will operate new long-haul routes and expand its existing ones. With A380, A340-500 and A350 XWB, we will offer direct routes between India and the US. The A330 will allow us to expand services to Europe and the A320s will help us meet the domestic demand," the official pointed out.

Source:The Times Of India,04-11-07

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