Mallya gung-ho on Airbus A-380 - <b>Video</b>

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Vijay Mallya, chairman, Kingfisher Airlines, refuted all reports about the airline re-considering its decision to buy Airbus A-380.

"I am committed to my decision, and look forward to deliveries from 2010. With Airbus A-380, we will not only have a competitive edge, we will be able to give our guests a remarkable experience," Mallya said in New Delhi today.

The world's biggest civilian aircraft, the Airbus A-380, landed in New Delhi yesterday as a part of route proving (testing) flights, and to join the second anniversary celebrations of Kingfisher Airlines on May 9.

A-380, the double deck, four engine 'superjumbo' flew non-stop from Airbus's base in Toulouse, France and is in Delhi till May 8 when it will fly down to Mumbai for a couple of days. Kingfisher is the only India-based airline to have placed orders for the A-380.

Streams of onlookers thronged the Indira Gandhi International Airport yesterday and today to catch a glimpse of this aircraft, which has seating capacity of a whopping 853 passengers in the full economy class configuration. With a fuel capacity of over 3 lakh litres, it can travel non-stop for 15,000 kilometres.

PTI adds: Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya today said he is keen on picking a stake in domestic budget carrier Air Deccan, but not ready for buying out the no-frills airline.

"Am I interested? Yes. Am I imminently acquiring it? Not decided as yet," Mallya told reporters at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, when asked whether Air Deccan was in his acquisition radar.

Air Deccan is India's largest low-fare airline with over 350 daily flights and a fleet of new Airbus A-320s and ATRs.

Mallya, whose Kingfisher Airlines is positioned as a full service-true value carrier, had last year sought to acquire Sahara group-promoted Air Sahara. But the deal never happened due to differences over valuation.

"I don't have any current plans to acquire Air Deccan," Mallya clarified.

Bangalore-based Air Deccan's spokeswoman had last week denied reports of an acquisition bid from Kingfisher, terming it as "mere speculation."