For Kingfisher, it's an issue of call-signs now

New Delhi: Kingfisher Airline's cherished dream of launching international services continues to run into some obstacle or the other. With the airline set to fly international routes using Kingfisher's call sign, civil aviation ministry officials now feel that it ought to use only the Air Deccan call sign.

While Deccan completes five years of service in the domestic market around 30 August, which allows it to operate international services under current rules, Kingfisher is seeking to launch its brand on international routes on Deccan's license which it has now acquired. On its own Kingfisher still has another two years to go before it become eligible to fly abroad under current rules.

Vijay Mallya-owned UB Group took over the pioneering low cost carrier Air Deccan last year and is now in the final stages of completing the merger process. These include providing a common ticketing platform for customers, amongst other issues.

Ministry officials said that Kingfisher was allowed to operate two call signs in the domestic market, in anticipation the two carriers would merge immediately and have a common ticketing and marketing platform. But Kingfisher cannot be allowed to fly abroad on its own call sign as the operating permit is in the name of Deccan Aviation.

They clarified that the ministry would have no objection to Deccan flying on international routes under the Kingfisher brand.

UB Group had recently received government permission to operate two brands and had accordingly received two call signs from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).