Indian airline loses flying rights
Loss-making Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines has lost all its international and domestic flying rights, which the government has handed to its competitors.
A Civil Aviation Ministry official said all traffic rights had been withdrawn from the beleaguered carrier, including its right to fly to eight countries, including the UK.
Up to 126 slots for international flights have been withdrawn, he said, making approximately 25,000 seats a week available to other Indian carriers.
Its domestic slots have also been handed to its rival airlines.
Kingfisher, whose licence to fly expired at the end of 2012, used to operate to the UAE, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as to the UK.
However, last October the Directorate General of Civil Aviation temporarily suspended the airline’s flying permit following a strike by its pilots and engineers over non-payment of salaries for several months that completely grounded its fleet.
The airline has since submitted a revival plan to the aviation regulator to attempt to resume limited operations, but this was rejected by the authorities.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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