Kingfisher Airlines Loses Flying Rights - Monday Feb 25,2013

The Union Civil and Aviation Ministry, on Monday, stripped the beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines of international and domestic flying slots. 

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said it was withdrawing with immediate effect Kingfisher's international bilateral traffic rights "on account of non-utilisation", affecting routes to Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE Dubai and the UK

These international traffic rights will be made available to other carriers, making an extra 25,000 seats available per week, "some of which are much in demand by these carriers"

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also withdrawn the domestic slots at Indian airports allocated to Kingfisher and will make these available to other domestic carriers

The move comes close on heels of a decision taken by the consortium of bankers to start recalling their loans amounting to Rs.7,500 crore. “The government has decided to withdraw all international bilateral traffic rights allocated to Kingfisher Airlines with immediate effect,’’ the statement added. 

Under the said rights, Kingfisher Airlines was allowed to fly the sky of eight countries, namely, Bangladesh (14 services a week), Hong Kong (14 services a week), Nepal (7 services a week), Singapore (7 services a week), Sri Lanka (14 services a week plus 21 services a week from unlimited 18 destinations), Thailand (21 services a week), UAE Dubai (21 services a week) and Great Britain (7 services a week each from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore).These traffic rights were allocated to Kingfisher Airlines between 2008 and 2011.