Kingfisher to extend lockout

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has clarified the airline could lose its licence if it fails to address DGCA concerns

The Kingfisher Airlines management on Wednesday failed to convince employees to rejoin work. It said the lockout at the airline would be extended. And, adding to the company’s woes, its winter schedule wasn’t approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

DGCA, which had issued a showcause notice to the airline, has released the winter schedules of all domestic airlines. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has clarified the airline could lose its licence if it fails to address DGCA’s concerns. It is expected Kingfisher would respond to the regulator’s notice by Saturday. In the winter schedule for 2011, DGCA had approved 2,930 weekly departures for Kingfisher.

At a meeting on Wednesday, the Kingfisher management and the agitating employees failed to arrive at a resolution to the deadlock.

GMR withdraws case
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) has withdrawn a cheque bounce case against Kingfisher.

On Wednesday, the company informed a metropolitan magistrate that it sought to withdraw the case as the matter had been settled in respect of the money due. The court allowed GHIAL to withdraw its four complaints.