The billionaire businessman known as “Branson of Bangalore” is defying soaring worldwide fuel costs to go head-to-head with British Airways and launch his first international airline service.

Vijay Mallya, owner of a beer, whisky, motorsports and aviation empire, told The Times that he is confident of filling his daily Kingfisher flights between London Heathrow and Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of the sub-continent, despite the crippling crisis afflicting the aviation sector.

The tycoon will draw on an estimated personal fortune of $1.2billion — amassed mainly from ownership of India’s only Formula One racing team, a star-studded cricket team and Whyte & Mackay, the Scottish distillery — to make the project work.

In a typically flamboyant gesture on the eve of the London route’s launch, made during a flying visit to attend a conference by the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), he presented the 300 guests at a black-tie dinner with free tickets on the new route.

Speaking before the dinner at Mansion House, Mallya responded to queries about the project’s viability, claiming that Bangalore’s growing links to Britain would mean that the route would become profitable, despite the crisis afflicting the aviation sector.

“With respect, that is a view of those who are based in England and Europe, who are listening and watching the problems of airlines over here,” he said.

“The truth is that there is a huge amount of potential in flying between Bangalore and London. The links between the two cities are greater than ever, but the only operator (between the cities) is BA — nobody else flies that route.  more

Source: Times Online

Glued under: Airways