KFA wants to retain airport slots; CEO meets DGCA

Debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines, grounded since October last year, would like to retain its airport slots, especially in Mumbai. Sanjay Agarwal, the CEO, met Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Arun Mishra on Thursday in this regard, said sources.

Last week, the government had withdrawn all domestic and international flying slots of Kingfisher and decided to allot these to other domestic airlines. Agarwal is understood to have informed DGCA that the airline would soon pay its staff six months' salary dues, using funds from the United Spirits Limited-Diageo deal. However, the regulator is unlikely to change its position on revocation of the airline's suspended licence, according to sources.

" We want assurance on payment to the staff as well as to other stakeholders. The suspension of the licence would be revoked only if Kingfisher Airlines presents a credible revival plan with financial details," said a civil aviation ministry source.

According to agency reports, Jet Airways has approached the ministry to acquire six of the vacant slots. Out of the six slots at Mumbai, Jet has sought three morning slots and three evening ones.