Deccan to fly to US by April 2008: Mallya

UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya announced that Kingfisher Airlines would fly to the US next year using the Air Deccan brand if necessary, should the Union ministry of civil aviation not relax the clause in the aviation policy that prevents domestic airlines with less than five years of operations from flying on international routes.

The UB group acquired 26 per cent in Air Deccan in June this year.

"Air Deccan is completing five years next year. Even if the group of ministers does not relax the norms for flying international, no one can stop us. This is our right," said Mallya at a CII marketing summit today. "If everything goes well we will fly to San Fransisco and New York by April next year," he added.

Kingfisher Airlines has been in operation for two years and Air Deccan completes five years in August 2008.

Mallya also said an application for the US operations was filed with the American Department of Transportation two weeks ago.

Later, talking to reporters on the sidelines of the summit, Air Deccan Chairman G R Gopinath confirmed Mallya's statement saying, "Deccan will help Kingfisher fly abroad."

He also confirmed the two airlines would opt for co-branding if necessary.

Mallya also said that after the 46 per cent stake, he was open to acquiring a 51 per cent stake or even more in Air Deccan. UB Holdings, the parent company of Kingfisher, acquired 26 per cent on a preferential basis of fresh equity shares, from Deccan Aviation for Rs 550 crore.