DGCA to submit report on Kingfisher

Hyderabad : India’s airline regulator would soon submit a report on whether crisis-hit Kingfisher Airlines is following the laid down norms, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said Wednesday.

Addressing a news conference during India Aviation 2012 here Wednesday, he said while the government did not want any private airline to close down, it has to follow the norms of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and maintain its schedules.

Ajit Singh said the DGCA was looking into the problems, especially in view of the cancellation of flights during the last three days and a section of pilots not reporting for work. “We will make no compromise on passenger safety,” he said.

While ruling out any bail-out package for any private airline, the minister said the government would not ask banks to lend money to Kingfisher. “Banks will lend money if there is a good business proposition,” he said.

To another query, he said under the rules an airline which operate five aeroplanes and has certain amount of equity its license can’t be cancelled.

Later, talking to reporters, Director General of Civil Aviation E.K. Bharat Bhushan said that Kingfisher Airlines did not stick to its recovery plan submitted to the regulator last month and the situation is a grave concern to the public and the government.

“With flight cancellations becoming regular, it is a matter of grave concern to all including the regulator. Though they had given us a recovery plan for the airlines last month, they have not maintained it,” he said.

“The situation cannot go on like this. Yesterday (Tuesday), they flew only 98 flights and cancellation rates are high. This is causing a lot of distress to the public which is a matter of concern for us,” he said.

The official said the regulator was assessing the situation and would act when the situation demands.