India’s debt-laden Kingfisher Airlines has vowed to return to the skies after losing its permit to fly when a deadline to renew its suspended licence expired.
The troubled carrier has been grounded since October after employees went on strike over unpaid wages.
India’s national aviation regulator said Kingfisher’s flying permit had lapsed.
Directorate-General of Civil Aviation chief Arun Mishra said: “They failed to provide additional details on the funding of operations.”
But the airline said there is no “cause for concern” as the rules allow for the renewal of a permit within two years of expiry.
“Kingfisher is confident of securing approval from the regulator on the restart plan, licence approval and reinstatement of its operating permit,” its spokesman said in a statement.
Kingfisher, controlled by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, owes millions of dollars to banks, airports, fuel suppliers and its staff and has been looking for a foreign investor to inject fresh funds.
