DGCA not quite convinced with Mallya's Kingfisher plans

New Delhi: Vijay Mallya’s word doesn’t really seem to carry weight any longer. Even as the chairman of Kingfisher Airlines today gave out several assurances to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on maintaining flight schedule, tackling the issue of pilots’ salaries etc, the DGCA EK Bharat Bhushan did not seem quite convinced.

Speaking to reporters after Mallya left the DGCA premises, Bharat Bhushan said that the airline has submitted a new plan with 16 operational and 4 aircraft in reserve to maintain schedule integrity.

“But they are severely hamstrung for want of funds and we still do not have any clarity whether they will be able to fulfill their liabilities (to oil companies and airport operators). We have no assurance on that,” he said.

[caption id=“attachment_250824” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Where is the respite for Kingfisher Airlines? Reuters”] [/caption]

The DGCA is expected to submit a full report on the Kingfisher issue to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday and Kingfisher’s operating license may still be canceled.

Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh also indicated a hardening of stand against the airline, which continues to violate published schedules and also continues to face pilot exodus besides mounting dues to oil companies and airport operators across the country.

Singh said, “Kingfisher has not adhered to its schedule in the past two three times. Also, though no safety issues have been detected with its operations till now, the non-payment of salaries to pilots and their mass exodus is being noted with concern by the DGCA.”

Mallya’s 16 operational aircraft plan for the summer schedule, which will take its daily flights to 100, does not explain how he will be paying the Airports Authority of India or his fuel bills. Also, pilots have been asking for their salary arrears for three months; service tax dues are also unpaid.

Wednesday may be a very important day in the Kingfisher calendar if the DGCA does opine that the airline needs to shut down.