NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has made it clear that Kingfisher Airlines will not be closed down or penalised just because it is making losses.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh in response to a question on stringent action against the airline said, “you can’t close down a company because they are making losses or banks are not giving them money. As long as passenger safety is not jeopardised, as long as they keep their schedule, why should we close down any industry?” Substantiating his stand further, Singh said that closing down of any airline would impact passengers. Banks have already stated that before seeking any funds, the Kingfisher Airlines would have to independently infuse fresh equity. However, CEO Sanjay Aggarwal stated that a turnaround for the airline is expected within 6-8 weeks.
Meanwhile, senior ministry officials maintained that they are not aware of any non-adherence of the Kingfisher Airlines to its flight schedules in the northeastern region. “Any flight cancellations in the northeastern routes need the ministry’s prior permission.
Nothing of any cancellations have come to our notice,” a senior ministry official said.
DGCA will be submitting another report on the airline’s curtailed flights, the official added.