Mallya's luxury US flight may have to lose weight

Billionaire liquor and aviation baron Vijay Mallya has a weighty issue at hand.
His luxurious wide-bodied twin aisle A330-200, fitted with plush accessories, is threatening to ground his plans of launching a direct transatlantic flight to the United States from India.
At the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday, Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines unveiled its first A330-200. The unveiling, on the eve of the launch of the airline's international operations, gave a glimpse into the luxurious offerings that Kingfisher's chairman and CEO has planned for high-end customers.
But the stand-up bars, massage seats, full-time chef, and other luxuries onboard the A330-200, which will be deployed on the US route, have lowered the payload of the aircraft.
The payload of an aircraft is its net carrying capacity including passengers, cargo, luggage and fuel. A lower payload means the aircraft can carry less fuel, passengers, cargo and luggage.
An aviation expert said that with incremental weight of its plush interiors, Mallya's A330-200 would be able to lift less fuel and so, would have to compulsorily halt for refuelling at some airports between India and the US.
15/07/08 Praveena Sharma/DNA MONEY

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Categories: Farnborough Air Show 2008, Kingfisher Jul 2008