Kingfisher, Jet won’t get Melbourne route

Private carriers like Jet and Kingfisher will not be able to fly to Melbourne,as aviation ministry will give time to national carrier, Air India to settle down on this route.
The cash-strapped AI that was recently granted approval to operate direct flights from Delhi has requested aviation ministry not to allow other carriers on that particular route till it stabilises its operations.
Both AI and aviation ministry officials confirmed the request. “Whether the ministry has accepted it or not is yet to come,” an AI official said on the condition of anonymity.
This has left private airlines miffed as they find that India-Australia route pretty lucrative to start direct flights. “Major traffic on India-Melbourne route is mainly students. To start flights on this route is certainly value for money. There is a huge potential both in terms of direct flights from India to Australia as well as connecting flights,” said a private airline’s executive, who did not want to be named.
At present, Singapore Airlines and Qantas are the major competition on India-Australia routes. Though both Jet Airways and Kingfisher have not yet sent an official proposal to aviation ministry seeking permission for Melbourne, the carriers find it as one of the good options for future network expansion.
24/03/11 Parul Chhaparia/mydigitalfc.com

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Categories: Air India Mar 2011, Foreign Mar 2011, Jet Airways Mar 2011, Kingfisher Mar 2011