Mumbai : In a unique interface between surface and air transport, luxury bus service operator Raj National Express (RNE) and Kingfisher Airlines will ink an interline agreement with domestic carriers to transport their passengers to satellite cities directly from international and domestic terminals. The move is unique in so much as it will allow Kingfisher Airlines to connect passengers to cities outside its current network and also opens the possibility for domestic airlines to deploy short haul feeder services from the unconnected cities to enhance load factors.

Manoj Chacko, general manager (sales) Kingfisher Airlines, confirmed that the domestic carrier was set to sign the interline agreement that would enable it to tap a large domestic and inbound religious tourism market. Revealing the details in an exclusive to ETW, RNE CEO Akash Seth said, "Shirdi and Tirupathi receive scores of affluent religious tourists but do not have air connectivity. The objective is to provide a uniformity in terms of travel comfort and time utility even if the surface is different. Following this agreement, passengers flying Kingfisher will receive an additional coupon with their e-ticket and for all practical purposes will deal with one vendor."

RNE will also look to set up lounges in the vicinity of the domestic airport - for now passengers will have to seek a transfer from the terminal to RNE lounges in the city. RNE operates three daily services to Shirdi and two to Tirupathi. Surat and Pune are two of the business travel destinations that could potentially join this network.