Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Indian carriers competing for San Francisco


Jet Airways and Kingfisher airlines, both India-based carriers, are competing for a San Francisco presence.

Jet Airways, which currently offers flights from India to the East Coast, has begun hiring at SFO as it moves its regional headquarters from New York. The airline has said it will commence Delhi to "West Coast" U.S operations next month. Meanwhile Kingfisher, ranked a 5-star airline by SkyTrax, announced flights from Bangalore to San Francisco will commence in August 2008. Flights from the Bay Area to India currently require at least a 22 hour time commitment, often with 2 connections. New service from S.F to India would likely reduce flight takes, and at least for now, be free of competition from U.S-based carriers.