Mallya asks Centre to review ban on int'l operations

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Bangalore, June 16: Kingfisher Airlines Chairman and Managing Director and Rajya Sabha member Vijay Mallya today demanded that the Union Government review its five-year ban on allowing domestic private airlines to operate international flights.

Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of 'The India Innovation Summit 2006', organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) here, the UB Group Chairman said that having invested a lot in purchasing aircraft, the companies could not afford to ground them.

Mr Mallya said Kingfisher Airlines, after achieving resounding success domestically, envisaged to extend its wings internationally, but the Centre's policy was coming in its way.

Scotching rumours that the UB Group proposed to take over some financially-unsound international carrier, the flambayount industrialist said that if the Union Government failed to respond to the plea, he had alternatives to go ahead with his plans to run international flights. ''Waiting for the Government's decision on the issue, we can not afford to place our brand new flights at the stable,'' he added.

Mr Mallya informed that the Airbus Industries, with which Kingfisher Airlines had signed a contract for supplying A350s and A380s, would be able to deliver on schedule from the end of 2010, despite facing some problems. He ruled out that a situation would arise to claim compensation from the aircraft manufacturer for delay in delivery.

He revealed that his airliner would add over 24 new flights to its fleet by 2008-end, besides 16 48-seater ATR aricraft.

To a question, he said there was a plan to start a dedicated air cargo service, but it would be realised only after utilising the present cargo capacity in its passenger aircraft cent per cent.

There were a lot of opportunities in the cargo sector, he added.

UNI

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