Kingfisher Airlines 'curtailing' widebody operations that are 'bleeding heavily'

Kingfisher Airlines VP corporate communications Prakash Mirpuri confirmed (14-Mar-2012) the carrier is "curtailing our wide body overseas operations that are bleeding heavily". To this end, the carrier has already returned one A330-200 to the lessor in the UK. "Positive and immediate action is being taken on all fronts to cut costs", Mr Mirpuri added. Meanwhile, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation joint secretary Prashant Sukul confirmed the Ministry has "received a proposal for re-organisation of its global flights", adding, "We have an open mind to it". [more - original PR]

At present, Kingfisher's limited international network comprises under 10 destinations, according to Innovata, with the carrier's largest international routes being Delhi-London Heathrow (3038 weekly seats in the current week), Mumbai-London Heathrow (3038 seats) and Mumbai-Hong Kong (also 3038 seats). However, as per the carrier's online booking function, it has reportedly cancelled the Mumbai-London Heathrow service, while still maintaining operations Delhi-London Heathrow. Meanwhile, as per a 14-Mar-2012 GDS inventory display, the carrier, from 25-Mar-2012, is cancelling all international services, except Delhi-London Heathrow, which is still scheduled to operate until 09-Apr-2012. However, as previously noted, it remains unclear if all of these operations will be cancelled under the route rationalisation or if the cancellations reflect the carrier's withdrawal from its GDS timetable display.