No timeframe set for Kingfisher's revival plan: DGCA

Aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday said there no timeframe has been set for the debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines to submit its comprehensive revival plan.

Director General of Civil Aviation Arun Mishra said the proposal will be examined in all aspects before taking decision on revoking its license.

"They (Kingfisher) said they will submit the revival plan. There is no timeframe for that. Whenever they are ready they can come. We have not got any indication from them when they are going to come to us," Mishra said on the sidelines of ACI Asia-Pacific Small Airport seminar in Hyderabad.

The DGCA had suspended Kingfisher's Scheduled Operators Permit (SOP) on October 19 till further orders after a lockout and its failure to come up with a viable plan of financial and operational revival.

DGCA had said Kingfisher had failed to run a "safe, efficient and reliable operations."

The SOP suspension came after a lockout by the management on October 1 following an impasse with its employees who struck work from September 30

demanding payment of overdue salaries.

The lockout was lifted on October 25.

"We are totally open (on renewing the licence). We always maintain that we would like to have more airlines and more connectivity. If they are prepared to run the airlines we are ready to renew license, then regulator said.

The ailing airline has indicated that they are in talks with investors until those takes are finalised they will have to run the airlines with their internal resources, the DGCA said.

Replying to a query, he said Kingfisher has good slots in various sectors, which have not been given to any other airlines.

"But we cannot keep them vacant for a long time. We have not approved their winter schedule also," Mishra said.

He said the DGCA has received a letter from Mumbai International Airport asking the regulator to hold the renewal of Kingfisher's license until the airport's dues are cleared.