The news desk · page 19 of 20
Updates, decoded.
What changed and whether it matters — grounded in the numbers, not the press release. Subscribe via RSS →
372 of 376 tracker events have stories — the desk publishes hourly. Too fast? Pulse is the monthly rollup →
Amex quietly stops minting new Kingfisher First cardholders
With effect from 27 April 2012, American Express stops issuing new Kingfisher First cards and switches all future spend on existing cards from King Miles to generic Membership Rewards points.
Kingfisher oneworld entry deferred — indefinitely
Kingfisher Airlines' oneworld entry was deferred indefinitely in 2012 due to financial issues, resulting in the loss of potential benefits for King Club members. This development has no impact on current Indian travel credit cards.
Kingfisher's oneworld entry put on hold a week before launch
Just a week before its scheduled 10 February 2012 induction, oneworld puts Kingfisher Airlines' membership on hold, citing the need for the airline to strengthen its financial position.
British Airways Retires BA Miles, Launches Avios Currency
On November 16, 2011 British Airways retired BA Miles — its distance-based currency since 1993 — and merged it with Air Miles and Iberia Plus into a single new currency, Avios. Redemption math changed for Indian flyers transferring Amex Membership Rewards or HDFC Diners points into Executive Club.
HDFC Infinia launch — 5,000 cards
HDFC Bank launches Infinia, India's first invite-only super-premium card, offered to 5,000 people. This sets a template for subsequent Indian invite-only cards, with no public application or published income cut-off.
Amex forces monthly auto-transfer of MR points into King Miles
From April 2011, American Express stops letting Kingfisher First cardholders bank flexible Membership Rewards points and begins automatically sweeping the entire monthly balance into King Miles.
Kingfisher Completes ₹8,000-Crore Debt Restructuring
In November 2010, 18 banks restructured roughly ₹8,000 crore of Kingfisher Airlines' debt, cutting the average interest rate to 11% and converting part of the loans into equity to keep the airline flying.
Jet Airways Launches Konnect Select, a Premium-Economy Hybrid
On April 26, 2010 Jet Airways added a premium cabin to its low-cost Konnect brand. Konnect Select offers a 40-inch seat pitch, lounge access and priority check-in, with JetPrivilege accrual matching the full-service Club Premiere fare class.
Kingfisher signs MOU to join oneworld alliance
On 24 February 2010, Kingfisher Airlines signs a memorandum of understanding with oneworld's member airlines, targeting alliance entry within roughly 18 months and putting India on track for its first global-alliance airline.
Competition Watchdog Opens Probe Into Jet-Kingfisher Alliance
On August 4, 2009 the Competition Commission of India ordered a full anti-competitive investigation into the Jet Airways-Kingfisher alliance — the deal that promised to link JetPrivilege and King Club into India's first cross-airline mileage pool.
Kingfisher Slams the Brakes on International Expansion
The global financial crisis forced Kingfisher Airlines to defer new long-haul route launches and rework its fleet plans by March 2009, freezing an international expansion that had barely begun. The promised global King Club network started shrinking before it had properly grown.
Kingfisher Airlines launches Bangalore-London route — 14 years too early to matter
Kingfisher Airlines launched a Bangalore-London route in 2008, but the airline is no longer in operation. This development has no impact on current Indian travel credit cards.
Air Deccan Vanishes Into Kingfisher Red
India's original ultra-low-cost carrier stopped existing as Air Deccan and was folded into Kingfisher's reservation system as the no-frills 'Kingfisher Red' fare class. King Club became the only loyalty currency on offer, whether you flew cattle class or Kingfisher First.
Kingfisher and Air Deccan merge — 29% market share
Kingfisher Airlines and Air Deccan merged in 2008, creating a single company with roughly 29% of the domestic market. This merger had significant implications for the airlines' operations and ambitions.
Air India Star Alliance bid stalls — 4 year wait
Air India's application to join Star Alliance was filed in 2007 but put on hold in 2011. This means Air India Maharaja Points holders missed out on a potential global network.
Kingfisher buys 26% of Air Deccan — $135 million
Kingfisher Airlines' parent company buys 26% of Air Deccan for $135.6 million, likely ending Air Deccan's frequent-traveller perks. This move is part of a strategy to control nearly a third of India's domestic market.
Jet Airways buys Air Sahara — ₹1,450 crore
Jet Airways acquired Air Sahara for ₹1,450 crore and renamed it JetLite, creating a integration headache for its frequent flyer program. This historical event has no direct impact on current cardholders but serves as a reminder of the complexities of managing multiple brands and loyalty programs.
Air India merger loses ₹7,200 crore
Air India and Indian Airlines merged in 2007, creating India's largest airline group, but the merger was plagued by IT chaos and ₹7,200 crore in losses by 2009. The merger had significant implications for Flying Returns members, who got a bigger route map but faced issues with the booking engine.
IndiGo Launches With Zero Frequent-Flyer Program — On Purpose
IndiGo took off on August 4, 2006 flying Delhi–Guwahati–Imphal with no business class, no free meals, and no frequent-flyer programme of any kind. The bet: on-time departures and rock-bottom fares matter more to Indian flyers than miles.
Jet Airways' $500M Air Sahara Buyout Collapses
Jet Airways' $500 million deal to buy Air Sahara died at the June 21, 2006 deadline after months of disputes over escrow terms and headquarters control, with both airlines suing each other instead of merging. Air Sahara's frequent flyers were left in limbo for another year.