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karatecatman · Guest

www.livemint.com/2009/01/12204120/Kingfisher-postpones-launch-of.html
Kingfisher postpones launch of two intl flights

The airline, which had started taking Hong Kong and Singapore flight booking in December, is refunding passengers or transferring them to other flights.

New Delhi: India’s second largest carrier by passengers flown, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd has postponed plans to start flights to Hong Kong and Singapore from Mumbai this week, and is refunding customers or transferring them to other airlines.

Despite an economic slowdown and slowing passenger demand, the airline run by liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya had planned to launch a daily flight to Hong Kong starting on Monday and to Singapore on Friday, as part of its overseas expansion plan.

“Kingfisher will not start operating at Hong Kong International Airport on 12 January,” said Cathy Cheung, a spokeswoman for the Airport Authority Hong Kong, without giving details. The airline earlier this month pulled the flights off the ticketing system, said an executive at an online travel portal who did not want to be named. “They have postponed them indefinitely without giving any reason,” the executive said.

The airline, which had started taking Hong Kong and Singapore flight booking in December, is refunding passengers or transferring them to other flights. Kingfisher Airlines flies to London from Bangalore and Mumbai using up to three of the five wide-body Airbus SAS-made A330 aircraft that it took delivery of last year. At least two other A330 aircraft grounded at Mumbai and Bangalore airports since late last year would have been put to use with the addition of the two new international routes.

A Kingfisher Airlines executive, who didn’t want to be named, said the airline may finally launch flights on those routes in mid-February after its flights using Airbus A320 planes to Dubai and Colombo take off. One reason for the delay was a glitch in the in-flight entertainment system, this executive said.

Singapore’s Changi Airport said it could not confirm any dates for Kingfisher’s flights yet. “We are always in discussion with prospective airlines,” said Constanze Chia, spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, “and we will announce the commencement of new airlines at Changi Airport at the appropriate time when plans are finalized.” Flights from Chennai and Bangalore to Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, are expected to start on 19 January and the Bangalore-Dubai flight from 8 February, Mint reported earlier. Kingfisher Airlines operates about 442 flights a day with a fleet of 87 aircraft.

Given the high lease rentals for the wide-body A330 aircraft, the airline has little choice but to fly them, said an analyst. Each Airbus A330 costs around $10 million (Rs48.6 crore) in annual lease rental. “The three aircraft they have on ground will be utilized; perhaps sooner. You cannot afford to keep three A330s on ground,” said Kapil Kaul, India head for the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

Maybe Mallya should do a Jet and lease his aircraft out.

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www.telegraphindia.com/1090113/jsp/frontpage/story_10381232.jsp
Mallya uncorks beer row
MUZAFFAR RAINA

Mallya
Srinagar, Jan. 12: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya today promised to bring the good times back to Kashmir, but sowed the seeds of a controversy by saying he would revive the cultivation of hops used in manufacturing beer.

The cultivation of hop — the female flower cones are used as an ingredient — has been opposed by separatists who are against the sale and consumption of liquor in Kashmir.

Mallya, a friend of National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, said investment opportunities in the state topped his agenda.

“We need hops for beer and are keen to restart its cultivation and processing in the state. We will look at potential opportunities. I will look at the Optrex plant at Zainakote industrial estate and find out whether I need to re-acquire it in this new regime which is full of promise and hope,” Mallya, whose United Breweries owns the Kingfisher brand, said.

Mallya owned the Optrex plant — which manufactured eye drops — in Zainakote on Srinagar’s outskirts before militancy erupted in the Valley. He said the crop facility for hops, used to balance the sweetness of the malt with bitterness, and the processing plant was destroyed by militants.

“Cultivation of hops started in Shilvat (in Kashmir) in 1973. It was a successful project based on import substitution. The cultivation of hops was highly appreciated. Our facility was inaugurated by the Sher-e-Kashmir (Sheikh Abdullah). But in 1989-90, the entire crop facility processing plant was destroyed by terrorists or insurgents. That was the end of the project,” he said.

Sources said indigenous yield of hops would benefit beer manufacturers in India, most of whom depend on imports from countries like Germany and the Czech Republic, one of the largest producers in the world.

Separatist groups said they would oppose the revival of hop cultivation. “We do not know if the National Conference is behind this. But if there is any such move, we will oppose it with our full might,” said Hurriyat leader Maulvi Abbas Ansari.

The government was cautious in reacting to Mallya’s desire. “Let him first approach us with a proposal. We will have to consider it then. It is too early to say whether we will allow or reject it,” said finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather.

Mallya also announced he would promote Kashmir tourism in foreign countries through his Kingfisher Airlines.

“Kingfisher will go beyond flying and offer tourism-specific packages to sell Jammu and Kashmir in different parts of India and overseas. Our staff in Europe will sell tourism as a complete package. We will bring tourists here, arrange their hotels, sight-seeing, surface transport and golf,” he said.

The Kingfisher boss said he was also toying with the idea of operating an international flight from Srinagar to Dubai via Delhi. “It is a little early to say when and where to fly. What immediately comes to mind is to have a flight from Srinagar to Dubai via Delhi. We will have customs and immigration in Srinagar,” he said.