Indian government has withdrawn domestic and international traffic rights from Kingfisher Airlines.
New Delhi, Feb 25/Nationalturk – In yet another major setback to debt ridden Kingfisher Airlines owned by India’s liquor baron Vijay Malya, Indian government has withdrawn domestic and international traffic rights from Kingfisher Airlines.
“The government has decided to withdraw all international and bilateral traffic rights allocated to Kingfisher Airlines with immediate effect,” Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said.
He said under the international bilateral traffic rights, Kingfisher Airlines were allowed to operate flights to eight countries namely Bangladesh (14 services per week), Hong Kong (14 services per week), Nepal (7 services per week), Singapore (7 services per week), Sri Lanka (14 services per week + 21 services per week from unlimited 18 destinations), Thailand (21 services per week), UAE Dubai (21 services per week) and UK (7 services per week each from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore).
Traffic rights were given to Airlines between 2008 and 2011
The minister said these traffic rights were allocated to Kingfisher Airlines between the year 2008 and 2011.
“These international traffic rights have been withdrawn from Kingfisher Airlines on account of non-utilisation by the airlines,” Indian civil aviation minister said.
He said it has been decided to make these international traffic rights available to other carriers for use. “This would give additional availability of approximately 25,000 seats per week for use by other Indian carriers to these 8 countries, some of which are much in demand by these carriers.”
Singh said it has also been decided to withdraw the domestic slots which were allocated to Kingfisher Airlines at different airports for domestic flights. “Airports Authority of India has been directed to make these slots available to other domestic carriers as per their demand,” he added.
The liquor baron Malya’s Kingfisher Airlines is grounded since October one last year on account of near-bankruptcy. The airlines, which lost its operating licence at the end of 2012, is estimated to owe US$2.5 billion in debt to banks, staff, vendors and others.
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News
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