/reeve.gif)
Full text at http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/cant- ... her-178446 .Can't compromise on safety, airline regulator warns Kingfisher
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: February 21, 2012 22:39 IST
New Delhi: Kingfisher Airlines can't compromise on safety - that was the stern message from the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as it pulled up the beleaguered airline today following large-scale flight disruptions.
In a meeting with Kingfisher CEO Sanjay Aggarwal, the DGCA categorically told the ailing airline that cutting costs did not translate into playing around with the safety of the passengers.
The stiff warning came after the private carrier cancelled a large number of flights over the weekend that has spilled onto the new week.
It also witnessed resignations of at least 34 pilots yesterday, with several other staff members being put on notice.
The airline, though, assured the DGCA that it had enough cabin crew and pilots to manage its flights.
The regulator, meanwhile, has decided to go for "safety surveillance" of all of Kingfisher's operating aircraft but assured that there is no cause for concern and passengers need not be worried.
The airline also has been given time till tomorrow to come up with a "realistic" flight schedule for its operating aircraft.
"The airlines will have to file a new schedule instead of a truncated one in the next 24 hours," DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan said.
But he ruled out ruled out any immediate punitive action to avert further difficulties to passengers. "Our priority is not to punish...because of the immediate difficulties the travelling public will have to face," he said.
Out of Kingfisher's 64 aircraft, 28 are operational.
Of all Kingfisher Airlines international services, only the London flight is presently operating.
Kingfisher also assured the regulator that the issue of non-payment of salaries would be sorted out soon.
The matter has reportedly effected the resignations of its pilots.
In fact, Kingfisher has closed down its Kolkata operations because the staff there had not been paid salaries for months.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, meanwhile, told reporters today, "We have to hear out Kingfisher.
We don't know what their plans are, how they are going to restore normal schedule. Then there are safety issues which they have to answer."
Explaining why the airline did not inform aviation regulator DGCA about flight cancellations, Mr Mallya said on Monday, "The I-T authorities very suddenly froze our bank accounts.
The inevitable disruptions had to happen. There was no time or no chance to reach out either to the DGCA or perhaps adequately to our guests who were booked on our flights."
This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
No account yet? Just Create an account first and head to the shop