Kingfisher cancellations UPDATED

Bob_the_Saver

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kingfisher-crisis-130-pilots-quit-149-flights-cancelled/articleshow/10686338.cms

Bob_the_Saver

UPDATED

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/More-aid-Banks-seek-proof-of-viability-first/articleshow/10709661.cms

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2214e8a2-0c54-11e1-8ac6-00144feabdc0.html

Bob_the_Saver

Many reports in India of Travel agents not taking new Kingfisher bookings and some lucky travellers being put on budget airlines when flights don't go, others are just told that their flight is cancelled.

TakeThis

A few months ago, I considered booking my Christmas flights with them(or Jet Airways) because of their favourable prices and conditions. Picked a premium Middle East airline instead. Paid more for a more restrictive ticket, but now I'm glad that I did.

budgetflyer

Are Jet in trouble too ? they are one of my options for next year

Bob_the_Saver

I flew with jet, they are saving a fortune being really mean with the booze so they'll probably be OK.
Reported they have 3 x the debt of Kingfisher but I'd back them over the Doctor! even though the flight attendants don;t have those nice red short skirts (not even the girls)

budgetflyer

I flew domestic with both Jet and Kingfisher in April. For the money I paid, they both gave too much. Meals, luggage, assigned seating and staff milling about everywhere. We even got personally escorted to the gate when in transit at chennai They both need to strip back + tighten up aka Ryanair + Easyjet to survive.

kazwookie

I got this email from them the other day:-

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]Dear xxxx[/FONT]

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]On behalf of Kingfisher Airlines, I am grateful to you for your support and patronage of our services. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on recent developments at Kingfisher Airlines vis-a-vis media reports on our performance.[/FONT]

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]As you are aware, the Indian Aviation Industry has been faced with the difficult task of coping with high costs and lower yields. Post considerable thought and deliberation, Kingfisher Airlines has rolled out initiatives that aim to drive the long-term profitability in our efforts to meet these challenges. [/FONT]

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]As announced earlier, we have decided to focus on the full-service market; to this end Kingfisher Airlines has initiated reconfiguration of its aircraft. This exercise will require few of our aircraft to be out of service for the next few weeks. Ergo and in line with maximizing productivity we have rationalized our network, resulting in a temporary discontinuation of approximately 50 flights out of our current operating schedule of approximately 350 departures per day. Once the reconfiguration is complete, these aircraft will be pressed back into service immediately. Clearly the report about our flights being cancelled owing to the supposed exodus of pilots appears to be falsified. [/FONT]

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]Our service commitment to you remains sacrosanct, and we have taken every measure to reduce any inconvenience caused due to the temporary changes in schedule. Please accept my sincere apologies in case you have been inconvenienced on this account; I truly appreciate your support, and thank you for your understanding. [/FONT]

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]I look forward to your continued patronage and remain, [/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]Yours sincerely,

[/FONT]

[FONT=Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif]Anshu Sarin
Vice President
Guest Loyalty and Kingfisher Holidays[/FONT]

budgetflyer

As announced earlier, we have decided to focus on the full-service market

The exact opposite of what I suggested.
This strategy is doomed in the domestic market. People don't want "full service" on short haul domestic flights. They want "CHEAP"
Unless they can roll out an Easyjet/Ryanair type service they are sunk

Bob_the_Saver

budgetflyer wrote: »

The exact opposite of what I suggested.
This strategy is doomed in the domestic market. People don't want "full service" on short haul domestic flights. They want "CHEAP"
Unless they can roll out an Easyjet/Ryanair type service they are sunk

The problem is they had that when they bought Air Deccan but 'absorbed' them to build the network and get earlier access to International routes.
They have been in trouble for so long it looks to many like only a matter of time, even with a new bail-out..... rather like Greece!

Bob_the_Saver

Further update

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Kingfisher-may-cut-200-flights/articleshow/10788818.cms