The Hindu Business Line : Kingfisher to start Mumbai-Mangalore service from Jan 20

KINGFISHER Airlines will begin Mumbai-Mangalore-Mumbai operations from January 20. In this regard, the airlines conducted trial landing of Airbus 319 at Mangalore airport on Friday.

The flight with 14 members, which took off from Mumbai at 2.30 p.m., landed at Mangalore airport at 3.40 p.m. Mr D.D. Gandhi, main pilot of the aircraft, was assisted by two other pilots. Mr Samant was the `check pilot', representing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, on the flight. After the successful trial landing in Mangalore, Airbus 319 took off to Mumbai at 4.52 p.m.

In an informal chat with a section of presspersons, Mr Gandhi, who is also the Vice-President (Flight Operations), Kingfisher Airlines, said the airlines would begin Mumbai-Mangalore service from January 20.

Mr M.R. Vasudeva, Airport Director, Mangalore, said the landing of bigger aircraft would help in tapping the potential of Mangalore airport to the full extent.

Kingfisher Airlines will be the fourth operator to operate flights from Mangalore. Jet Airways, Air Deccan and Indian Airlines are the other three, which together operate 35 flights a week to Mumbai and Bangalore from Mangalore.