Kingfisher's flight abroad awaits US nod
MUMBAI: Kingfisher Airlines will hold back its international debut by three to four months to take time to prepare fully for its overseas launch, the airline chief Vijay Mallya said.
This is despite the fact that the first of the airline's long-haul A330/340 aircraft is expected to be delivered in the first week of April. The management now plans to start operations to the United States only by July or August. The aircraft may be used for pilot or crew training or could be leased out to another airline in the interim, sources close to developments said</u>.
One of the reasons for the delay in the international foray is that Kingfisher is yet to receive United States department of transportation clearance for its flights to that country. There is also no clarity from the Indian government on whether Kingfisher will be allowed to fly internationally under its own name, or will have to use the Deccan brand.</u>
According to Mr Mallya, this issue has ceased to matter because the two airlines are expected to merge by March 31 this year. However, among the bureaucracy, there is also confusion on exactly when Air Deccan completes its five years of operation.
The airline was given permission to start flying in April 2003, however it actually began flying only in August of that year. So it is not clear when the five years will officially be considered to be complete. Mr Mallya said the airline will start operations on international routes only when it is fully prepared.
It may be recalled that the Mumbai-based Jet Airways had also leased out its long-haul A340 aircraft to Air India on a short-term lease when its approval to operate to the United States was delayed. Kingfisher is on schedule to take delivery of ten long-range aircraft beginning April. Since each of the aircraft is an asset worth over $200m, airlines typically would want them to start operating as fast as possible.
``The first delivery will be in April, the second at the end of May, followed by two planes each in July and August this year'', Mr Mallya said.
The airline has in the meanwhile begun shortlisting cities in Italy and Germany to serve as its European hub. It is currently considering Dusseldorf and Cologne in Germany or Rome and Milan as possible cities to serve as its gateway in Europe. While some of Kingfisher's flights will fly non-stop to the United States, others will transit via Europe.
</u>
Most airlines are looking for less crowded airports as transit points since the traditional gateways like London, Frankfurt and Paris are facing severe congestion problems. Jet Airways has chosen Brussels as its hub and now operates ten daily flights from various Indian cities.
On the commercial side, Kingfisher is also yet to put in place its booking engine to start selling the seats. Airlines typically put their flights into booking systems a few months before starting flights, particularly on long-haul routes where passenger decisions to fly are made much in advance.
Kingfisher is planning to kick-off with Bangalore-JFK New York non-stop flights, a route not being served by any other carrier so far. Meanwhile, the airline has booked slots at New York's John F Kennedy airport and San Francisco International. Construction work is about to begin on Kingfisher lounges for premium passengers at these airports.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com..._abroad_awaits_US_nod/articleshow/2681855.cms
In conclusione il succo è il seguente: la compagnia indiana sta iniziando a ricevere i primi widebodies e, sulla scia delle decisioni prese da Jet Airways prima ed Air India poi, sta cercando un aeroporto da trasformare in hub per i propri voli in prosecuzione per gli USA. Speriamo che almeno uno degli aeroporti citati possa riuscire ad "aiutare" la compagnia indiana, almeno non resteremmo indietro come al solito per quanto riguarda questo tipo di progetti.
Comunque oggi è la giornata delle indiane, che come sempre si rivelano molto chiacchierone e prima di giungere ai fatti ce ne mettono di tempo...
MUMBAI: Kingfisher Airlines will hold back its international debut by three to four months to take time to prepare fully for its overseas launch, the airline chief Vijay Mallya said.
This is despite the fact that the first of the airline's long-haul A330/340 aircraft is expected to be delivered in the first week of April. The management now plans to start operations to the United States only by July or August. The aircraft may be used for pilot or crew training or could be leased out to another airline in the interim, sources close to developments said</u>.
One of the reasons for the delay in the international foray is that Kingfisher is yet to receive United States department of transportation clearance for its flights to that country. There is also no clarity from the Indian government on whether Kingfisher will be allowed to fly internationally under its own name, or will have to use the Deccan brand.</u>
According to Mr Mallya, this issue has ceased to matter because the two airlines are expected to merge by March 31 this year. However, among the bureaucracy, there is also confusion on exactly when Air Deccan completes its five years of operation.
The airline was given permission to start flying in April 2003, however it actually began flying only in August of that year. So it is not clear when the five years will officially be considered to be complete. Mr Mallya said the airline will start operations on international routes only when it is fully prepared.
It may be recalled that the Mumbai-based Jet Airways had also leased out its long-haul A340 aircraft to Air India on a short-term lease when its approval to operate to the United States was delayed. Kingfisher is on schedule to take delivery of ten long-range aircraft beginning April. Since each of the aircraft is an asset worth over $200m, airlines typically would want them to start operating as fast as possible.
``The first delivery will be in April, the second at the end of May, followed by two planes each in July and August this year'', Mr Mallya said.
The airline has in the meanwhile begun shortlisting cities in Italy and Germany to serve as its European hub. It is currently considering Dusseldorf and Cologne in Germany or Rome and Milan as possible cities to serve as its gateway in Europe. While some of Kingfisher's flights will fly non-stop to the United States, others will transit via Europe.
</u>
Most airlines are looking for less crowded airports as transit points since the traditional gateways like London, Frankfurt and Paris are facing severe congestion problems. Jet Airways has chosen Brussels as its hub and now operates ten daily flights from various Indian cities.
On the commercial side, Kingfisher is also yet to put in place its booking engine to start selling the seats. Airlines typically put their flights into booking systems a few months before starting flights, particularly on long-haul routes where passenger decisions to fly are made much in advance.
Kingfisher is planning to kick-off with Bangalore-JFK New York non-stop flights, a route not being served by any other carrier so far. Meanwhile, the airline has booked slots at New York's John F Kennedy airport and San Francisco International. Construction work is about to begin on Kingfisher lounges for premium passengers at these airports.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com..._abroad_awaits_US_nod/articleshow/2681855.cms
In conclusione il succo è il seguente: la compagnia indiana sta iniziando a ricevere i primi widebodies e, sulla scia delle decisioni prese da Jet Airways prima ed Air India poi, sta cercando un aeroporto da trasformare in hub per i propri voli in prosecuzione per gli USA. Speriamo che almeno uno degli aeroporti citati possa riuscire ad "aiutare" la compagnia indiana, almeno non resteremmo indietro come al solito per quanto riguarda questo tipo di progetti.
Comunque oggi è la giornata delle indiane, che come sempre si rivelano molto chiacchierone e prima di giungere ai fatti ce ne mettono di tempo...
