Date:16/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/16/stories/2006041603210300.htm

Back Kingfisher Airlines launches new first class cabin

Our Bureau

Mallya claims this is an effort to be in tune with times

The economics
"The price of the first class ticket will be at least 10 per cent higher than what competitors charge in business class. But when a passenger is willing to pay Rs 14,000 for flying between Delhi and Mumbai then there should be little problem in paying a bit extra for this."

MR VIJAY MALLYA

Mumbai , April 15

The new first class cabin that is being offered at prices that are just a wee bit higher than existing business class fares by Kingfisher Airlines is worth a try..

The cabin offers you not only a sleeperette seat with a 48 inch pitch, a 125 degree recline adjustable headrests, but also in-flight entertainment both audio and video on demand including the latest Hollywood and Hindi movies. Other services available on board are an international class welcome pack, spectacle cleaning services, stain removers and lap top and mobile phone chargers in each seat.

"The price of the first class ticket will be at least 10 per cent higher than what competitors charge in business class. But when a passenger is willing to pay Rs 14,000 for flying between Delhi and Mumbai then there should be little problem in paying a bit extra for this," said the Airlines' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Vijay Mallya.

The airline will offer Kingfisher First on all the flights between Delhi and Mumbai starting todayand by June it will be available on all flights operated by it. The cost of putting in a first class cabin would be about $1 million per aircraft.

Questioned on why the airline was going in for a change in its business model less than a year after it launched, Mr Mallya said the company was just moving with the times. Incidentally, the product was tried out on Friday by 20 CEOs including 10 Indians whose companies feature in the Fortune 500 list on an overnight flight from Zurich, where the Airbus A-320 was being redone, to India.

So sure is Mr Mallya about the success of the new product that he has already decided that the Airbus A-321 aircraft that the airline will be receiving in October this year will have 32 first class seats instead of the 20 which will be available on the Airbus A-320 at present.