Kingfisher Airlines to ramp up international operations

Kingfisher Airlines is set to ramp up its international operations, adding flights to Colombo and Male (Maldives) this winter.

International operations contribute only 22 per cent to the airline’s total revenue. In contrast, Jet Airways’ the share of international operations to its revenue is 57 per cent. However, the airline is tapping into new markets to increase its earnings. In the last financial year, Kingfisher had earned Rs 1,460 crore from international routes, and its total revenue stood at Rs 6,496 crore. For international operations, the airline recorded an operating loss of Rs 130 crore in 2011. In 2010, the loss stood at Rs 430 crore. The airline currently operates 28 international flights.

“We are planning to launch several flights in south India and have secured the permission to start operations with a direct flight from Mumbai to Male. Kingfisher Airlines is lining up to join oneworld and we are seriously considering global expansion,'' said a Kingfisher Airlines spokesperson in an email response. oneworld is a global alliance of airlines comprising British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.

The airline is set to launch daily direct flights to Colombo from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirapalli later this month. This follows the new Chennai route, the third-busiest international route from India. "There is round-the-year traffic to Maldives. Daily, about 60-80 people travel from Mumbai to Maldives through Colombo or Bangalore,'' said D J Ashar, director, Make Plans Travel Services, which specialises in island holidays.