Mallya's Kingfisher all set to fly abroad

NEW DELHI: Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines is all set to commence its international operation under its own name and logo and not that of Air Deccan as the civil aviation ministry does not foresee any legal problems with it. According to the civil aviation ministry regulations , only carriers with five years’ experience in operating domestic flights can fly on international routes.

The two-year-old airline holds a controlling stake in Air Deccan, which will be completing the requisite five years criteria in August next year. The airlines has already announced its plans to launch the international operations.

The civil aviation minister Praful Patel told Sunday ET: “If Kingfisher Airlines which holds 26% in Air Deccan plans to fly next year under its own logo, I don’t think that there is any legal tangle to this issue. However, as far as civil aviation ministry is concerned, the policy of five years stands. The future decision has to be taken by the group of ministers (GOM).”

The minister said there needs to be more flexibility depending upon the airline’s capability, whether they have long-haul planes, routes to be flown and business plans. “We will review on a case-by-case basis as to who can fly abroad, especially to those places where we are not flying and whether carriers of the respective country are flying to India. But the airlines have to prove their capability first,” he said.

Kingfisher Airlines also feels it would be smooth sailing. When contacted, Mr A Raghunathan, executive vice-president & chief financial officer, Kingfisher Airlines said that they don’t see any legalities to their international operations under the Kingfisher’s name and logo, since they own a controlling stake. “Even if there are any issues it will be resolved before the commencement of our international operations,” Mr Raghunathan said.

According to Kapil Kaul, CEO Indian Subcontinent & Middle East, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation , the airline will have an advantage if it starts its operation under the Kingfisher logo. “Kingfisher is a global brand and they’ll have an absolute advantage as more and more people will prefer to fly on it rather than Air Deccan,” he said.

Kingfisher is in the process of starting its international operations and has agreed to buy 15 A350-800 XWBs in addition to the five previously ordered . It has also placed order for five A380s, the largest civilian airplane ever built.