New Bangalore connection from Kingfisher

Kingfisher Airlines (website: www.flykingfisher.com) is to launch a new daily service between London Heathrow Airport and the city of Bangalore, ABTN reports.

There had been doubts about whether it would be granted the runway slot due to Indian rules that airlines must have been flying for five years before gaining an international licence.

The carrier has only been operating flights since August 23, 2005, but its majority stake in Deccan has apparently convinced regulators that it is worthy of the connection.

The first flight is expected to take to the skies on September 3 and will be operated by an Airbus A330. It will compete directly with a British Airways Boeing 747 daily service.

Analysts note that Kingfisher recently paraded a new A330 at the Farnborough Air Show. That plane was configured with a two-class operation, as compared to BA's four distinct cabins.

The news comes as rival Indian airline Jet Airways confirmed it is also opening an international base in Bangalore, opening up several links with North America via its European hub Brussels.

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