Kingfisher Airlines opts out of India Aviation 2012

Cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines, which hogged the limelight during the previous two editions of India Aviation, an international exhibition and conference on civil aviation held once in two years in Hyderabad, has decided to stay away from the five-day event this time.

“The airline has decided on its own to opt out of this year’s edition. They are not participating in the show for obvious reasons,” Vivek Kodikal, regional director (trade fairs), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), told mediapersons here on Saturday.

Spread over 20,000 square metre of exhibition area, over 250 international and local companies from various segments of the aviation industry would exhibit their products and services during the event from March 14 that will take off at Begumpet Airport – which used to handle 100 general, training and military flight movements a day, before Rajiv Gandhi International Airport went on stream.

According to Kodikal, over 22 aircraft will be on static display during the show. This year, the UK would be the partner country, France the focus country and the US the guest country.

“Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, which is shortly going to be inducted into Air India's fleet, will make its maiden landing in India at Hyderabad during India Aviation. Besides, Sukhoi’s Superjet 100 aircraft, Embraer's new business jets Phenom 300 and 100, and Russian Aerospace Organisation Irkut will be participating for the first time at the show,” he added.

Kodikal said the show will be open for business visitors for the first three days and the remaining two days for the general public. The fee for business visitors is Rs 500 and Rs 200 for general visitors.

“Tickets for general visitors have been limited to 20,000 for this year’s event,” he said.