Kingfisher Airlines Limited is a major Indian airline. Flying from London Heathrow to Mumbai daily Kingfisher operates more than 400 flights a day and has a network of 72 destinations, with regional and long-haul international services. Kingfisher Airlines, through one of its holding companies United Breweries Group, has a 50 percent stake in low-cost carrier Kingfisher Red.
Kingfisher Airlines is one of six airlines in the world to have a five-star rating from Skytrax, along with Asiana Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways In May 2009, Kingfisher Airlines carried more than a million passengers, giving it the highest market share among airlines in India

The airline started operations on 9 May 2005, following the dry lease of four new Airbus A320-200 aircraft. Its first flight was from Mumbai to Delhi. At the launch of the airline, Dr. Mallya said that he is "committed to achieving our ambition of making Kingfisher Airlines India's largest private airline both in capacity and market share by 2010."

Kingfisher was the first Indian airline to have in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems on every seat even on domestic flights. All passengers were given a "welcome kit" consisting goodies such as a pen, facial tissue and headphones to use with the IFE system. Initially, passengers were able to watch only recorded TV programming on the IFE system, but later an alliance was formed with Dish TV to provide live TV in-flight. And in a marked departure from tradition, Kingfisher Airlines decided to have an on-screen safety demonstration using the IFE system.
On 14 July 2008, Kingfisher unveiled its first ever Wide-body aircraft, a Airbus A330-200 (registered VT-VJL) at the 46th Farnborough Air show held in July 2008. Kingfisher's first Airbus A330-200 was widely billed (according to the airline's press release) as the best A330-200 ever built by Airbus

Kingfisher Airlines' fleet currently consists of ATR 42, ATR 72 and Airbus A320 family aircraft for domestic and short haul services and Airbus A330-200s for international long-haul services. The average age of its fleet as of January 2009 was 2.3 years.

The real winning factor for Kingfisher Airlines is the quality of staff service being provided to customers, and it is of course critical that the airline is able to sustain these high quality levels as they experience continued and rapid expansion. Staffs delivers high standards of service efficiency and in a sincere and charming manner that makes the airline stand out from the rest.

The international Kingfisher Class seats offer a seat pitch of 34 inches, a seat width of 18 inches and a seat recline of 25 degrees (6 inches). Passengers get full length modacrylic blankets, full size pillows and business class meals. There are in-seat chargers and USB connectors.
Each Kingfisher Class seat has a 10.6 inch widescreen personal television with AVOD touchscreen controls. The IFE is similar to that of the international Kingfisher First class.

Kingfisher's IFE system is the Thales TopSeries i3000/i4000 on-board the Airbus A320 family aircraft, and Thales TopSeries i5000 on-board the Airbus A330 family aircraft provided by the France-based Thales Group.

Kingfisher Lounges are offered to Kingfisher First passengers, along with King Club Silver and King Club Gold members. Lounges are located in:

UK: London Heathrow airport terminal 4
India: Mumbai airport, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai airport

The Frequent-flyer program of Kingfisher Airlines is called the King Club in which members earn King Miles every time you fly with Kingfisher or its partner airlines, hotels, car rental, finance and lifestyle businesses. There are four levels in the scheme: King Club Base, Red, Silver and Gold levels. Members can redeem points for over a number of schemes. Gold and Silver members enjoy access to the Kingfisher Lounge, priority check-in, excess baggage allowance, bonus miles, and 2 Kingfisher First upgrade vouchers for Gold membership.

Kingfisher Airlines frequent flyer programme, King Club has won Top Honors at the 21st Annual Freddie Awards in the Japan, Pacific, Asia and Australia region.

King Club has won the Freddie Awards 2008 in the following categories:

	Kingfisher Airlines has received three global awards at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards
	Named Best Airline in India / Central Asia; Best Cabin Crew – Central Asia Kingfisher RED named Best Low Cost Airline in India / Central Asia
	NDTV Profit Business Leadership Award for Aviation"
	awarded to Kingfisher Airlines by NDTV twice in two years
	India's only 5 Star airline", rated by Skytrax and "6th airline in the world"
	to be certified as 5 star airline by Skytrax
	Ranked amongst India's "Top Service Brands of 2008"
	in a ranking by Pitch magazine
	Voted as "India's Favourite Airline"
	in a survey conducted by an independent research firm with 46% votes compared to 9Ws 23%
	Rated as Asia Pacific's "Top Airline Brand"
	in a survey conducted by TNS on 'Asia Pacific's Top 1,000 Brands' for 2008
	Brand Leadership Award"
	in the service and hospitality segment against several acclaimed hotels, leading banks and other airlines
	Economic Times Avaya Award 2006 for Excellence in "Customer Responsiveness"
	the prestigious award is presented by the highly acclaimed Business Daily, Economic Times
	India's No. 1 Airline in customer satisfaction" Business World
	Rated amongst India's most respected companies" - Business World
	Rated amongst India's 25 Innovative Companies" in asurvey conducted by Planman Media in 2006
	The Best Airline" and "India's Favourite Carrier" in a Survey conducted by IMB for The Times of India
	Best New Domestic Airline for Excellent Services and Cuisine"
	Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) the biggest travel writers' organisation, representing members from 70 countries across the globe, that conducts independent annual surveys across various industries related with Travel and Tourism in order to select the best in each category
	Service Excellence 2005-2006 for a New Airline" by Skytrax, a UK based specialist global air transport advisor
	Ranked Third in the survey on India's Most Successful Brand launch of 2005"
	under the Brand Derby Survey conducted by India's leading business daily - Business Standard

Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant CEO of United Breweries - the company that owns the Kingfisher brand - is one of the most flamboyant CEOs in Asia. Vijay Mallya believes in leading his brand from the front by leveraging his personality.


Vijay Mallya is referred to as India's Richard Branson. A great part of the personality of the Kingfisher airlines brand is based on Mallya's personality.

Vijay Mallya has built a reputation for splurging his money in the public. He is the key sponsor to many of India's top derby championships, he owns a yacht once owned by Elizabeth Taylor, flies a personal Boeing business jet, owns super stylish homes in London, US, Dubai and India. Vijay Mallya is a diehard party animal, and is seen as the personification of a luxurious life!


Vijay Mallya's associations with the rich, trendy and the luxurious have rubbed on his business venture and the brands. Similarly to Richard Branson, he launched Kingfisher Airlines, which draws a lot of its brand equity from Mallya himself.


Vijay Mallya is a classic example of how Asian CEOs can lead their brands by being the most vocal ambassadors of their brands to build and sustain brand equity.