Kingfisher Airlines

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Kingfisher Airlines
IATA
IT		 ICAO
KFR		 Callsign
KINGFISHER
Founded 2004
Hubs Bangalore International Airport
Fleet size 24 (incl. 75 in order)
Destinations 29
Parent company UB Group
Headquarters Bangalore, India
Key people Dr. Vijay Mallya,CMD
Website: http://www.flykingfisher.com

Kingfisher Airlines is a private airline based in Bangalore, India. Services started on 9 May 2005, following the lease of 4 Airbus A320 aircraft. As of February 2007, Kingfisher operates only on domestic routes, however it has announced plans to start flights to the US with Airbus's A380 aircraft. The airline privately is owned by United Beverages Group under the leadership of Vijay Mallya (which also owns the popular Indian beer of the same name) . The airline promises to suit the needs of air travellers and to provide reasonable air fares. Kingfisher Airlines' main "luxury" component is its In-Flight Entertainment System, a first among Indian airlines. Kingfisher Airlines is an official sponsor of the Panasonic Toyota F1 Team.[1]

Contents

[edit] Fleet

An artistic impression of an Airbus A380 in Kingfisher livery
An artistic impression of an Airbus A380 in Kingfisher livery

As of January 2007 the Kingfisher Airlines fleet includes:

The airline was the first in India to initially and to continue to operate with all new aircraft.

On 18 February 2005 Kingfisher Airlines signed a contract with Airbus for three Airbus A319 aircraft, adding to the 10 Airbus A320 aircraft (plus twenty options) ordered in January 2005. The first of the A319s will be delivered in December 2005, complementing the A320s on routes to smaller cities in India.[2]

On June 15, 2005 it became the first (and only) Indian airline to order the Airbus A380. It placed orders for 5 A380s, 5 Airbus A350-800 aircraft and 5 Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a deal valued at over $3 billion. Delivery of the A330s is due to start in late 2007, followed by the A380s in 2010 and the A350s in 2012.[1]

On November 20, 2005 at the Dubai Air Show, Kingfisher Airlines announced that it would be buying 20 ATR 72-500s (plus 15 options). The deal is estimated to be worth $500 million dollars with the deliveries starting from March 2006. The last of the 20 planes would be handed over to Kingfisher Airlines by 2008. The first aircraft from that order was delivered to the airlines on March 31, 2006.

On November 21, 2005 at the same air show, Kingfisher Airlines placed an order to acquire 30 more A320s in a deal estimated to be worth $2 billion. Engine making joint venture International Aero Engines will supply the engines for the planes. Deliveries for the planes are likely to start from 2008.

On January 13, 2006 an Airbus A319 of Kingfisher Airlines was the first aircraft in that class to land on the short older runway at Mangalore airport.[3]

On the April 24, 2006, Kingfisher signed a contract for five Airbus A340-500 HGWs.The airline plans to use this for its Bangalore-San Francisco and Mumbai-New York route. Delivery is expected for 2008.[4]

Kingfisher has sold two Airbus A321s to Pegasus Aviation Finance in a sale and lease-back deal. Pegasus says in a statement that the two new-build A321-200s that are being prepared for delivery to Kingfisher will be the first of the stretched A320-family variant in India. Kingfisher already leases one A320 from Pegasus.[5]

[edit] Sponsorship

A Kingfisher-sponsored Toyota F1 car: "Fly Kingfisher"
A Kingfisher-sponsored Toyota F1 car: "Fly Kingfisher"

Kingfisher Airlines has entered a 2 year agreement to be a sponsor of Toyota F1 beginning in 2007. The "Fly Kingfisher" logo appears on the sides of the Toyota F1 Car and on the driver's overalls and helmet.[1]

[edit] Destinations

As of December 2006, Kingfisher flies to the following airports in India:

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Kingfisher Airlines is Toyota's official F1 racing team partner", domain-b.com, 2007-01-15. Retrieved on January 17, 2007.
  2. ^ Kingfisher becomes first Indian customer for A380, A350, & A330 airbus.com
  3. ^ Creates History - Airbus A-319 Trial Flight Lands at Bajpe daijiworld.com
  4. ^ Kingfisher grows its Airbus fleet with purchase of five A340-500 airbus.com
  5. ^ Air Transport Intelligence news. Oct/2006

[edit] External links

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