Jet, Kingfisher brace for dogfight in the US

Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, the two rival private airlines, are bracing up to compete in the US skies. While Jet Airways is in talks with Boeing to advance aircraft deliveries to start the US service, Kingfisher Airlines, which is awaiting approvals to fly abroad, has already started a branding exercise for its US foray.

Aviation industry experts said the lucrative US route is growing at 10 per cent. Over 1.5 million passengers travel on the India-US route mainly visiting friends and relatives and students. Though there is a marginal decline in passengers owing to reverse drain of professionals to India, US is still an attractive market for airlines.

Jet Airways Executive Vice -President (marketing & sales) Anita Goyal said the airline is looking to start services to New York via Brussels by July. "We are trying to advance the flights to the US. We are also planning to start daily services to San Francisco via Shanghai in winter 2007," said Goyal. Jet Airways will be deploying B777 aircraft on the India-US route. This service will be having three class configuration, with an exclusive suite, she added.

The Indian government has recently given Jet Airways the permission to fly to the US. The airline has already carried out a makeover for its international operations, including a change in the corporate identity and the uniform of cabin crew.

Kingfisher has already started branding exercises along with measures to secure right to fly abroad. An airline should complete five years of operation to get a licence to fly abroad.

While its application to start US services is pending, the airline is ready with an alternate plan to start services from the US to India, using its US subsidiary, Kingfisher International.

"The international flights of Kingfisher are going to be unique. The non-stop flights to the US will be having a bar and a social area for gathering for passengers to feel comfortable in ultra long-haul flights," said Vijay Mallya, chairman and CEO of Kingfisher, which is planning to start non-stop Mumbai-New York and Bangalore-San Francisco flights.

Hitesh Patel, executive vice president, Kingfisher, said the interiors of the US-bound planes would be a customised product. A special UK-based team is engaged in designing the interiors to make passengers feel comfortable. Interestingly, the first class and business class seats would be patented to Kingfisher. Globally renowned seat maker BE Aerospace is making special seats for Kingfisher.

Needless to say, Kingfisher is planning to deploy all foreign cabin crew on its US flights.

State-run carrier Air-India is also gearing up with its daily non-stop service to New York and Chicago by mid-June (before Jet's US foray) after taking the delivery of three Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft during first week of June. Air-India was planning to start its US service by April-end but postponed it following reschedulement of aircraft.

Not to be left behind, Air-India is also gearing up. S Venkat, executive director (finance), said coupled with interline agreements with international carriers and better timings, Air-India's US product would be the quickest service from India.

Venkat adds Air-India has tied up with in-flight entertainment company Thales to offer high-end and non-stop inflight entertainment while brand consultant Alia Group is designing a special onboard mood lighting which will make passengers feel fresh always.

Air-India has selected Italian interior major, Avio Interiors to install first, business and economy class seats on board for 23 B777s and economy class seats of 18 B737-800 aircraft.

At present, Air-India is operating 24 flights (one-stop services) a week to the US and will increase to 35 shortly. This includes relaunching the Los Angeles flight which was suspended earlier.

Continental Airlines, the world's fifth largest airline, will also launch daily non-stop flights between Mumbai and New York/Newark from October 31. Continental is already operating a Delhi-New York non-stop service since 2005. While Delta Air Lines is operating non-stop flight between Mumbai and New York, American Airlines is flying a non-stop to Delhi-Chicago service.