Bangalore to be hub for Kingfisher’s ops

Bangalore to be hub for Kingfisher’s ops

Anshul Dhamija| ) tnn


London: UB Group chief Vijay Mallya is putting his moolah on namma Bengaluru to push forward his international air operations.
Kingfisher Airlines, which has just launched its maiden international flight — from Bangalore to London, will make Bangalore the gateway to India.
Bangalore will sport the airline’s flagship route connecting Bangalore to San Francisco, expected to commence in November as a non-stop service. The city’s new airport would also be the home turf for all of Kingfisher Airlines’ operations.
On the anvil at Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) is the setting up of a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility (MRO), a 30,000 sqft dedicated office space as well as other facilities. The airline is also creating a second lounge area in BIA that would connect to both the domestic and international departure area.
Senior officials of the airline said Kingfisher has close to 15 acres of land on a 25-year lease from BIAL to set up its maintenance facilities. Sources said Kingfisher could sign more such deals with BIA. Earlier, TOI had reported that Kingfisher was in talks with Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance (Gamco) for setting up of a MRO facility at BIA.
Price war
The entry of Kingfisher on the London route has started a fierce price war in the sector. Hours before Kingfisher maiden flight, British Airways, which commanded a monopoly on the Bangalore-London route, slashed its base fare by around Rs 6,000, offering passengers a return ticket excluding taxes of Rs 9,990. Airlines operating on the Mumbai-London and New Delhi-London route like Jet Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air India and British Airways also dropped their base fares by Rs 6,000. Kingfisher’s Mumbai-London route is also expected to begin shortly. “When airlines say they have special fares, one must remember that such fares would only be available for a limited number of seats, which could even be just 10,” said a leading travel agent.
Mallya appeared unfazed by the price war. “I have instructed my team to charge Rs 1,000 more than British Airways,” Mallya had said at the launch of his international operations.
“Mallya will not play the price war even if he has to fly an aircraft empty. He believes in the superior Kingfisher product, which in the domestic market has emerged as the market leader in just three years,” said an official of the airline.
On the London route, Kingfisher is flying a wide-bodied Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 30 Kingfisher First seats (at business class fares) and over 170 Kingfisher class seats (premium-economy fares). The first class sports a standing lounge bar, 180 degree flat beds including designer cosmetic care by Salvatore Ferregamo.