Kingfisher Airlines set for launch in first quarter 2005

Airline Industry Information, Sept 27, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

India's UB Group has said that it expects its low-cost carrier Kingfisher Airlines to begin services early in 2005 using a fleet of four new Airbus A320s.

The chairman of the UB group Vijay Mallya said that the airline would be setting fares at 20-30% lower than conventional carriers and that it would be investing INR1.5bn to cover initial running costs.

Mallya said that the airline would initially lease the four Airbus aircraft and would add four fully owned aircraft before the end of 2005, with plans to add a further eight aircraft in 2006, reports Asia Pulse.

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