Jet, Kingfisher brace for dogfight in the US

Mumbai: Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, the two rival private airlines, are bracing up to compete in the US skies. While Jet Airways is in talks with Boeing to advance aircraft deliveries to start the US service, Kingfisher Airlines, which is awaiting approvals to fly abroad, has already started a branding exercise for its US foray.
Aviation industry experts said the lucrative US route is growing at 10 per cent. Over 1.5 million passengers travel on the India-US route mainly visiting friends and relatives and students. Though there is a marginal decline in passengers owing to reverse drain of professionals to India, US is still an attractive market for airlines.
Jet Airways Executive Vice -President (marketing & sales) Anita Goyal said the airline is looking to start services to New York via Brussels by July. has already started branding exercises along with measures to secure right to fly abroad. An airline should complete five years of operation to get a licence to fly abroad.
While its application to start US services is pending, the airline is ready with an alternate plan to start services from the US to India, using its US subsidiary, Kingfisher International.
18/04/07 P R Sanjai/Business Standard

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Categories: Foreign Apr 2007, Jet Airways Apr 2007, Kingfisher Apr 2007