Kingfisher Airlines is planning to add more seats in its aircraft and fly more international routes without adding extra aircraft to its fleet. As fuel rises above $100 a barrel, airlines are under more pressure to lower operating costs elsewhere. State-run Indian oil firms have increased jet fuel prices by 15.48% since 1 January.
Kingfisher Airlines confirmed in March that it has applied to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the ministry of civil aviation for traffic rights on several international routes using its existing fleet. The airline is also understood to be reconfiguring all of its Airbus SAS fleet to dual class – economy and first class.
Rival Jet Airways is following a similar strategy and is reported to be converting one-third of its domestic flights into the all-economy service Jet Airways Konnect to cut costs.