INDIA'S KINGFISHER AIRLINES TO FLY TO KL

NEW DELHI, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Kingfisher Airlines, India's second largest
private airlines, will soon start daily flights from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur.

India's Civil Aviation Ministry is said to have granted permission for the
airline to fly the Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore sector.

The Economic Times reported today that the Kingfisher, owned by the United
Breweries Group, controlled by Indian industrialist, Vijay Mallya, would fly the
new routes.

"We have granted permission to Kingfisher to operate daily services on three
more international sectors, including Chennai-Kuala Lumpur, with immediate
effect," a ministry official was quoted as saying.

The paper however did not name the official.

"The Aviation Ministry has asked the airlines to conduct proper study of
air traffic on new routes before announcing the launch.

"In case the airline launches its services on new routes without a market
survey, it may be forced to withdraw flights later. This must be avoided," said
the official.

After Jet Airways, Kingfisher is one of the most preferred airlines in the
domestic circuit. As of last year its share of Indian aviation market stood
at 27 percent.

According to recent ministry data, the Bangalore-based airline, along with
its budget carrier, Kingfisher Red, flew 11.26 million passengers last year,
only next to Jet Airways that carried 12.01 million passengers.
-- BERNAMA