Kingfisher may sell A340s, defer deliveries of narrow-bodies
26 Jul 2008
Mumbai: Rising cost of fuel has resulted in full service provider, Kingfisher Airlines, now seeking to sell, or at least defer deliveries of narrow-bodied aircraft it had on order. Reports suggest that it is negotiating with international carriers for the sale of at least two A340-500 aircraft.
It may dispose of more of these aircraft if fuel prices remain where they are. It had ordered five A340-500s from Airbus last year.
Airline officials said they may also seek to defer deliveries of 29 narrow-bodied A320s.
Kingfisher chairman, Vijay Mallya, has confirmed that the carrier will take delivery of 10 wide-bodied aircraft this year.
Airlines officials said that the carrier has nearly 20 deliveries scheduled each year till 2012, but very likely the schedule would be revised.
According to aviation experts, the A340 consumes one and a half times more fuel than the A330s.