Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
Kingfisher to launch operations in US
By siliconindia
|
Wednesday, 28 March 2007, 17:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Kingfisher airlines will soon be submitting applications for starting an airline in U.S that could fly to India. According to Airline chairman and managing director, Vijay Mallya, the final clearances could take six to eight months to complete. The airline has also asked the Indian government to relax the five-year rule for operating on international routes from India.
"Our detailed application is being compiled by our attorneys and it will be submitted in the next six to eight weeks," Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya told reporters.
Mallya said the domestic airline, which has ordered Airbus A340-500 aircraft among others, planned to start long-haul international operations after this wide-bodied plane is inducted. "It will be delivered to us in a year from now," he added.
Asked about Kingfisher operating on international routes from India, the liquor baron said, "We still continue to request the government to relax the five-year rule".
Under the present rules, a domestic airline can launch global operations only if it has a fleet of 20 aircraft and has put in five years of operations within India. He said if the government was permitting foreign start-up carriers to operate in India and grab the Indian market, it was "logical" that new Indian carriers are allowed to operate abroad. "Hopefully, the government will agree. However, if the government does not permit, I will fly from the US to India and back," said Mallya.