Kingfisher Red may start charging for food

Mumbai: Passengers may soon have to pay for food on board low-fare service Kingfisher Red as the parent carrier, Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, studies ways to change the way it operates in a deteriorating market condition.
“In line with market dynamics, Kingfisher Airlines is evaluating various options, including charging for food on board Kingfisher Red,” said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak for the company. “The airline has kick-started a market research to find out what is the best option for the airline, but nothing has been finalized as of now.”
A Kingfisher spokesperson did not return calls.
In October, Kingfisher Airlines began serving free food on Kingfisher Red, comprising a bottle of water, a cup cake, freshly cut fruit and upma—a southern Indian breakfast food made of rice flour. Kingfisher Red, which is a no-frills, all-economy, low-fare service, was created by UB group-run Kingfisher Airlines by re-christening Air Deccan, India’s first low-fare carrier that it acquired in mid 2007. Earlier, Air Deccan was selling food on board, which doubled as a source of revenue.
Currently, at least 70% of Kingfisher’s flights are operated under the Kingfisher Red service. Kingfisher has at least 370 daily domestic flights, with 73 aircraft connecting 70 destinations.
16/08/09 PR Sanjai/Livemint

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Categories: Kingfisher Aug 2009, Kingfisher Red Aug 2009