Wednesday, December 7 2005 17:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Kingfisher Airlines hopes to fly abroad by mid of 2007 once the airline receives delivery of airbus A330 wide-bodied aircraft.

"I will be getting A330 in 2007, by that time we would be completing two and a half years in aviation industry. Then I am going to request the Government to ease the norms or allow us to fly at least within Asia," Kingfisher Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Mallya told sources.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has laid a norm of minimum five years of experience in domestic airline operations for granting airlines permission to fly abroad, which is an issue facing opposition from few political circles, including few members of ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

He expressed hope that considering present rapid growth of aviation sector in the country, the Government would definitely consider airliner's request to review these norms.

Mallya, who started country's first private airline in 90 with two Dornier aircraft, is presently engaged in working out strategies for Kingfisher Airlines entry into capital market with Initial Public Offer of around USD 200 million, which is slated to come up in 2006.

"We are seriously looking at this source to fund our orders for new aircraft. We would be getting the first delivery of world's largest Jumbo Jet Airbus A380 around 2010. However, we have to do the pre-delivery payments," Mallya said.

Kingfisher would be getting the delivery of A330 in third quarter of 2007 and that of A380 in 2010. It plans to use A330s for its regional services and A380s for longer journeys.