Mumbai/ New Delhi, Jan. 8

With Government permission to fly abroad not yet forthcoming, Kingfisher Airlines plans to lease the first Airbus A-340-500 aircraft being acquired by it to an airline till such time as it becomes eligible for international flights.

The airline is to receive the first of the five A-340-500 aircraft in March-April this year. The aircraft is capable of flying non-stop between Bangalore and San Francisco.

At the moment, Kingfisher does not meet the Government guidelines of completing five years of domestic operation to fly abroad. Kingfisher hopes to cross the five-year hurdle by completing the acquisition of Air Deccan by August this year so that it can fly abroad on Air Deccan rights. The Bangalore-based low cost airline completes five years of domestic operations on August 23, this year. The Deccan Board is to meet in Bangalore on January 22 to take the buy out by Kingfisher forward.

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