ADVERTISEMENT

Kingfisher management discusses revival plans with DGCA

A day after resolving the impasse over salary issue with its employees, the Kingfisher Airlines top brass today discussed revival plans with the director general of civil aviation (DGCA).

"It was a general meeting. We had a discussion with the DGCA to get a better understanding about presenting the revival plan (of the airline). We will get back to them very soon," airline CEO Sanjay Aggarwal said after a 30-minute meeting with DGCA chief Arun Mishra.

Mr Aggarwal added that no revival plan has been submitted yet.

“We will present it soon. No time-frame has been specified," he said. He was asked when the airline plans to submit the revival plan and seek revocation of its flying licence (Scheduled Operator's Permit) suspension by the DGCA.

Kingfisher was issued its license on August 26, 2003. It is valid till December 31 this year. 

DGCA sources said that Aggarwal and Kingfisher promoter Vijay Mallya would soon discuss among themselves the operational and financial plan for revival of the cash-strapped carrier.

This would include the number of aircraft they have, the routes they want to operate on, apart from financial issues including debt repayment, the sources said. They added that the airline needs to submit a comprehensive plan on all these issues to convince DGCA to revoke suspension of their flying permit.

But resumption of Kingfisher's flights may take at least 3-4 weeks as the airline would have to satisfy the DGCA on safety issues as well as the viability of their financial and operational plans.

Kingfisher employees have already resumed work after a 27-day strike and a 25-day lockout, which was lifted by the management after it agreed to pay four months’ salary dues to the employees in a staggered manner by December-end.

The striking employees had earlier stepped up the heat demanding an immediate settlement while threatening to take their protest to the the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix, in which airline promoter Mallya is involved.

"We will now finalize and present our resumption plan to the DGCA and hope to get their concurrence soon," a Kingfisher spokesperson said.

The carrier's fleet of 66 aircraft is now down to ten -- seven Airbus A-320s and three ATR turbo-props. It is saddled with a loss of Rs 8,000 crore and a debt burden of over Rs 7,524 crore, a large part of which has not been serviced for several months.