No more plane Janes in the air

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The new wings set to hit the air aren''t just about flying at the cost of an AC-II train ticket -- ''designer'' flights are ready to take off. </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Delhi Times </span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">reports from the runway of the not-so-distant future...</span><br /><br /></div> <div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" center=""><img src="/photo/814596.cms" alt="/photo/814596.cms" border="0" /></div> <div class="Normal"><br />Fasten those seat-belts.India''s first ''designer'' airline is ready to take off at an airport near you. And that, for the high-fliers club, could be just the shape of things to come. <br /><br />After all, when liquor baron Vijay Mallya''s Kingfisher Airline hits the high skies in December 2004 or January 2005, Indian fashion will literally fly high, what with the aircraft having ''flying models'' a la models in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">haute</span> outfits on the runway, and the interiors being done by six designers: Manoviraj Khosla, Tarun Tahiliani, Ritu Beri, Ashish Soni, Malini Ramani and Rohit Bal.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What''s in store</span>: "I don''t plan to run a Grey Hound bus service in the air," announces Mallya, "With the theme ''Fly The Good Times'', the airline has no economy-class seats. Each seat will have individual LCD TV monitors showing concerts we have hosted, like those of Enrique Iglesias and Bryan Adams. In place of air hostesses, we''ll have flying models. The interiors and red costumes of each of the six Airbus A-320s will be designed by six separate designers in compliance with air safety regulations."<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">High-flying designs?</span> Bangalore-based designer Manoviraj Khosla is set to do uniforms for stewards and airport staff. "The silhouettes of my uniforms -- Western -- will be tapered. While the knee-length skirts will border on the sexy, shirts will be white with a hint of red in terms of embroidery or stitches. Jackets, in full and half sleeves, will be narrow and sleek. The look will be very international."<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Ye andar ki baat hai:</span> "The interiors of the aircraft -- including the carpeting, seats and side panels -- will bear a funky look with the designer feel," informs Khosla. The aim of the aircraft interiors is to enthuse the air traveller. <br /><br />"I''m still working on the details, but my designs will be <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">avant garde</span> and global in their appeal. I''m in the process of finalising a social theme which will match that of the airline brand," says Ritu Beri. Adds Ashish Soni, who plans to use black, white and red for the aircraft interiors. "I plan to give the interiors a fun look but a lot depends on the concept, which needs to be worked out in conjunction with Airbus Industrie in Toulouse. For instance, when we suggest a colour, its raw material needs to be made available by Airbus Industrie."<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Easier said than done</span>: For Rohit Bal, the underlying theme will be fun. "Nowhere in the world have I heard of designers doing the interiors of an aircraft. While I''m waiting for Mallya''s brief, the designs will have to be practical." <br /><br />According to Tarun Tahiliani, "Designing for an aircraft isn''t as simple as designing a garment. The aircraft''s interiors needs to be studied, its nuances understood. Finally, design elements will be incorporated keeping in mind safety regulations."</div> </div>