British Airways fuels fare war on India-London route

New Delhi/Bangalore: Airlines may be bleeding due to high fuel prices, but travel to London is all set to get cheaper, thanks to a no-holds-barred fare war triggered by British Airways.
Even as Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines is starting its maiden flight to London on Wednesday, British Airways-the biggest carrier on this route, has slashed fares for the London sector.
The UK-based airline has launched special fare of Rs 9,990, plus taxes, fees and surcharges, on all flights to London from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Passengers would have to pay Rs 34,757 instead of Rs 48,917 they paid earlier.
“These fares are available for travel between September 1 this year and will continue till January 31, 2009, on all our 43 flights per week from London Heathrow to five cities in India,” British Airways area commercial manager (South Asia) Amanda Amos said. To meet the threat from the British carrier, Kingfisher Airlines has also reduced basic fares drastically. Its chairman Vijay Mallya said, “We will match British Airways on fares, but will come with premium pricing. We will put our economy seat at Rs 1,000 over the basic fare offered by British Airways and other competitors. I have asked my sales team to change the fares accordingly and some of the seats will now come with new fares.”
Since it is Kingfisher’s maiden foray into the international sector after several attempts, the airline is keen to make a success out of its London flights.
The discounted basic fare for the economy class on Kingfisher Airlines comes to around 10,990 (excluding taxes), which earlier stood at around Rs 18,730 for the economy class.
03/09/08 Chanchal Pal Chauhan & M Rochan/Economic Times

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Categories: Foreign Sep 2008, Kingfisher Sep 2008