Kingfisher Airlines Limited

OST-2007-28959 - Exemption - India-US

August 6, 2007

Application for Exemption - Bookmarked

Kingfisher intends initially to offer long haul nonstop services from a major city within India to one point in the US. Northeast and one point on the US. West Coast. Consistent with the terms of the bilateral agreement between the United States and India, Kingfisher requests from the Department an exemption permitting ix to engage in the (i) scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail from points behind India, via India and intermediate points, to a point or points in the United States, and beyond; and (ii) charter foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between India and the United States, and other charters, in accordance with 14 C.F.R. 212.

Kingfisher is desirous of extending the same level of innovative and high quality service it provides within India to its new international destinations, including the United States. Kingfisher has firm orders for a number of long-range international aircraft including the A-330-200, the A-340-500, A-350 and the A-380. A number of these aircraft will be powered by the newest generation of United Technologies engines. As a well-financed and 100% privately-owned airline, Kingfisher is the ideal airline to play a significant role in fulfilling many of the expectations of both India and the United States in signing the landmark 2005 India-U.S. open skies agreement.

Until now, privately-owned India carriers have yet to commence service to the United States, while US. carriers, in marked contrast, have made major strides in launching new services in the open-skies environment. Air-India remains the only carrier from India serving the United States. In addition to the fact that four U.S. carriers presently operate their own flights to India, it is also significant that three of these carriers are operating US.-India nonstop service in comparison with Air-India's service, all of which is operated via intermediate points.

Kingfisher is therefore hopeful that the United States, including the Department in particular, will recognize that it is in the long-term mutual interest of both the United States and India to encourage the initiation of services from high-quality, well- financed, privately-owned Indian airlines such as Kingfisher.

Counsel: Squire Sanders, Marshall Sinick, 202-626-6651, msinick@ssd.com