Air Pegasus in talks with lessors over payment issue

Grounded regional carrier Air Pegasus today said it is in discussions with its aircraft lessors over the payment issue and may resume operations in one week's time.
The Bengaluru-based airline is not operating services since July 27 after its lessors took back possession of three aircraft in the wake of its failure to pay lease rentals, which runs over Rs seven crore.
"we are negotiating with our lessors. We are ready to pay 50 per cent of the dues now and the remaining 50 per cent in period stretching over six months," Air Pegasus Managing Director Shyson Thomas said after meeting Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here today.

Thomas said that he was confident of sorting out all the financial issues with the lessors soon, adding, "we expect to resume operations in one week's time."
Raju during the meeting, however, made it clear to the airline that Government was ready to help the carrier but only in resuming operations but not in financial issues.
"We need to have airlines flying, not on the ground. We want airlines to survive, (but) we cannot take the liabilities and generate other problems," Raju said.

Last month Civil Aviation secretary R N Choubey had said that Government would examine the feasibility of any assistance if there was a request from the airlines.

"If they approach us, we will examine...What is feasible and what is not," he said.
Before suspending operations for an indefinite period, the carrier flew from Bengaluru to at least seven destinations in southern India.
Air Pegasus started operations in April 2015.