KF defers Dubai plan till July

Bangalore: Kingfisher Airlines has put off its plans to fly to Dubai until June-July. The airline was all set to connect Bangalore to Dubai beginning March 7.
It has now suspended its plans owing to the economic slowdown that has gripped the Middle East and plummeting air fares.
According to sources in the travel industry, “Kingfisher had looked at a provisional date of launch for its Dubai services in April this year, which also got cancelled. Now the launch date will be somewhere in June or July.’’
The source added that if the market does not pick up by then the launch could be further postponed by another month or so.
Aviation analysts point out that the current low pricing levels of west Asian carriers like Emirates and Etihad Airways as well as excess capacity on this route could have also been a factor in Kingfisher’s decision.
At present, return ticket prices to Dubai cost Rs 15,000-16,000, a 20-25% drop from normal times.
On the capacity front Emirates alone operates 20 flights per week out of Bangalore.
12/03/09 Anshul Dhamija/Economic Times

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Categories: Foreign Mar 2009, Kingfisher Mar 2009