India’s Kingfisher Airlines has been asked by the country’s aviation ministry why it shouldn’t be grounded permanently.
With seven years of losses and a heavy debt load, Kingfisher’s future has been further clouded by flight cancellations and staff unrest over unpaid wages which has seen them refuse to work until they are paid what they are owed.
On October 5, the Director General of Civil Aviation issued a show-cause notice to Kingfisher asking why its flying licence should not be suspended or cancelled as it had grounded its entire fleet "and failed to offer safe, efficient and reliable service".
The DGCA gave the airline 15 days to reply.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has also said the airline would have to submit a concrete plan to DGCA on safety and salary payments, before it is allowed to resume flights.
And in a further blow to Kingfisher, an arrest warrant has been issued for Vijay Mallya, the owner of the airline, after he failed to answer a court summons over bounced cheques.
