The Hindu Business Line : Kingfisher Air to begin Mangalore-Kochi flights

PEOPLE of Mangalore will soon have direct a flight service to Kochi - the commercial capital of Kerala. Kingfisher Airlines is likely to begin operations on Kochi-Mangalore-Bangalore sector from next month.

Though the exact date of the launch is yet to be confirmed, sources told Business Line that the operations might begin in the third or fourth week of December.

The airliner is likely to use a 50-passenger capacity Bombardier aircraft for this route. According to the tentative schedule, the airliner may operate on Kochi-Mangalore-Bangalore route in the morning around 9 a.m. and on Bangalore-Mangalore-Kochi route in the evening.

On various occasions, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) had requested the Government to permit the operation of a morning flight from Mangalore to Bangalore. Now the first flight to Bangalore leaves at 11.25 a.m. If Kingfisher Airlines goes ahead with the tentative schedule, it would benefit air travellers from Mangalore.

At present, the city has direct flights to Bangalore and Mumbai. While Jet Airways operates two flights on Mumbai-Mangalore-Mumbai route, Indian Airlines operates one on this route. Air Deccan and Jet Airways operate one flight each on Bangalore-Mangalore-Banga -lore route.

Sources said that the airliner has been allotted space by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for setting up its counter on the airport premises. When contacted, the Mangalore Airport Director, Mr M.R. Vasudeva, confirmed this.

People in trade and industry here say that there is need for direct flights to other cities such as Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi. They say that other airline operators should think of exploiting the air traffic potential of Mangalore, as the work on the construction of the second runway at the airport will be over by the end of March.

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