Rejig of Kingfisher, Deccan fleet on anvil: Mallya
Amitabha Roychoudhary/PTI / Vancouver June 5, 2007
Days after acquiring control of Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya is now looking at rationalising the fleets of the two carriers, and considering changes in the total fleet order of 90 aircraft.
"We are considering swapping or switching orders placed by the two airlines before the 26% stake in Deccan was bought," Mallya told PTI on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The UB Group will soon be launching an open offer to buy another 20% stake in Deccan Aviation that operates Air Deccan.
He said both Kingfisher and Air Deccan would "revisit their fleet plans" in coordination with each other to rationalise the fleet structure.
To questions on the future of Air Deccan, which is currently bearing big losses, he said: "Air Deccan will be profitable, gung ho."
Both the airlines have already placed orders from the European aircraft major, Airbus Industrie, for about 90 aircraft.
These include five of the largest aircraft - A380, the first of which is slated to be delivered to Kingfisher by 2011.
Industry sources here said Kingfisher is likely to revise its earlier orders and place fresh orders for wide-bodied A330-400s for use on the India-US sector.
They said the fresh orders, likely to be placed at the upcoming Paris Air Show starting in mid-June, would include five A340-600s also.
Rejig of Kingfisher, Deccan fleet on anvil: Mallya
Amitabha Roychoudhary/PTI / Vancouver Jun 05, 2007, 19:30 IST
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