Kingfisher Airlines Launches Direct Flights Between Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India , 2007-01-17

Kingfisher Airlines, India’s fastest growing private carrier and the first airline in India to offer a premium first class service on domestic routes, today announced the launch of direct flights from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram. The maiden flight was received by Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Minister of Home and Tourism Govt of Kerela in the presence of Dr Venu V IAS Secretary Kerala Tourism and Mr Sanjay Kaul IAS Director kerala tourism.

Guests who arrived on the first flight of Kingfisher Airlines from Bangalore were treated to a cultural extravaganza comprising a traditional Kerala welcome ceremony as two traditionally dressed girls performed aarti and placed the traditional tikka on the forehead of guests. This was followed by a performance where a Kathakali dancer accompanied by a special group of traditional musicians showcased the legendary dance form to the delight of guests and others present at the airport.

Commenting on the launch of this new route, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said, “Kingfisher Airlines has redefined the experience of flying and has come to be regarded as an airline that sets new benchmarks in service excellence for the industry. Through the launch of this new route Kingfisher Airlines reaffirms its commitment towards addressing the needs of its guests by providing connectivity between metros and mini-metros in India. The pace of growth coupled with our constant endeavour to raise the bar has endeared Kingfisher Airlines to its guests and this is sure to catapult Kingfisher Airlines into the position of a market leader by the year 2010”.

Thiruvananthapuram is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC and was referred to by Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India". It is believed that the ships of King Solomon landed in a port called Ophir (now Poovar) in Thiruvananthapuram in 1036 BC.

Thiruvananthapuram, is the largest and most populous city in Kerala and apart from being the political nerve centre of Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions including the Kerala University, and to many science and technology institutions, the most prominent being the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The first information technology park, the Technopark; as well as the first biotechnology centre in India, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) are at Thiruvanathapuram.

About Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines is India's first and only private airline to receive the prestigious, 'Best New Airline of the Year' award in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region from Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). Kingfisher Airlines has also been voted as the 3rd Most Successful Brand Launch of the Year 2005, in the annual Brand Derby Survey conducted by India's leading business daily-Business Standard. In another Survey conducted by agencyfaqs.com and Brand Reporter, Kingfisher was voted as the 7th Buzziest Brand of 2005 amongst 2000 leading national and international brands. More recently, Kingfisher Airlines has bagged the "Service Excellence for a New Airline" award from Skytrax, a UK based specialist global air transport advisor.

Another addition to the list of laurels is the "Best New Domestic Airline for Excellent Services and Cuisine" award from Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), the biggest travel writers' organization, across the globe, that conducts independent annual surveys across various industries related with Travel and Tourism in order to select the best in each category. In a survey conducted by IMB for Times of India, 46% of the participants voted Kingfisher Airlines 'The Best Airline" and "India's Favourite Carrier". Lastly Kingfisher Airlines won the “Brand Leadership Award” in the service and hospitality segment against several acclaimed hotels, leading banks and other airlines. Kingfisher Airlines commenced operations on May 9, 2005 with a brand new fleet of aircraft. Kingfisher Airlines offers Full Service at True Value and promises an unparalleled experience to the Indian air traveler. On offer are extra-wide seats and spacious leg room, delicious gourmet meals, international-class cabin crew and a whole host of comforts and delights. Kingfisher Airlines also facilitates doorstep delivery of tickets on guest request. Kingfisher Airlines has further raised the bar by introducing the Indian business traveler to a premium product- Kingfisher First, the finest experience in the Indian skies. For more information on Kingfisher Airlines log on to www.flykingfisher.com . Fly the Good Times with Kingfisher Airlines.

To view the fares and schedule click on the link below:

http://businesswireindia.com/attachments/KFA_BLR_TRV.doc


Contact

Malini Nair, Manager PR, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, + 91 93242 39730
[email protected]