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Kingfisher Airlines extends partial lockout until 12 Oct: reports

Kingfisher Airlines Ltd has extended its partial lockout by eight more days unti 12 October, as talks between the management and employees failed over non-payment of salaries, according to reports.

The airline reported that its planes would take to the air again on October 5.

The striking pilots are planning to move the labour court against the airline for failing to pay their backlog, reports said.

Bharat Raghavan, the company secretary of Kingfisher and a key member of the top management, also resigned with effect from September 30.

Kingfisher Airlines has also received Rs. 600mn lifeline from banks for the airline to pay its employees, according to reports.

Reports stated that the airline will be able to pay its employees salaries with half that amount.

Kingfisher Airlines is in talks with foreign airlines and non-airline investors for a possible stake sale to ride out of the crisis, CEO Sanjay Aggarwal reportedly said.

Earlier the airline management assured that employees March salaries will be paid within 1 week, according to reports.

DGCA to review Kingfisher Airline's operations: reports

Aviation regulator DGCA will review Kingfisher Airline's operations in the wake of mass cancellation of its flights, according to reports.

The engineers of Kingfisher went on a strike  to protest the non-payment of salaries since March.

The airline is currently operating less than 50 flights with seven aircraft, reports says.

With a view to mitigating the impact of these anticipated disruptions, the airline proactively cancelling several flights across our network for October 1, 2012.

In Focus Stories

Ajit Singh launches Monthly Lounge Magazine of AAI

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh launched a monthly lounge magazine of Airports Authority of India titled “Airports India”at a function in New Delhi. Secretary Civil Aviation K. N. Shrivastava and Chairman, Airports Authority of India V. P. Agrawal were present on the occasion.

The rationale behind having a monthly lounge magazine “Airports India” is to update the air passengers about the facilities available and developments made in airport infrastructure be it on ground or in air. The magazine will also serve the purpose of leisure reading whilst waiting at the lounges of airports in India. The magazine with 30,000 copies will be kept in the lounges of all airports, libraries etc.

Domestic News

Regulator cannot ignore frequent flight cancellations: Ajit Singh 

The civil aviation minister, Ajit Singh has reportedly said to Kingfisher Airlines that the regulator cannot ignore frequent cancellation of flights due to employee agitation.

Disruption of (flight) schedule has become an issue with Kingfisher Airlines, Singh reportedly said.

Ajit Singh has reported that Kingfisher will have to ensure it maintains schedule sanctity as the passengers are being inconvenienced when flights are getting cancelled.

Kingfisher Airlines has been plagued by frequent cancellations caused by striking pilots and engineers.

Kingfisher may face prolonged shutdown: reports

Kingfisher Airlines Ltd may face a prolonged shutdown until the airline clears a salary backlog going back months, according to reports

Reports stated that the government is taking a stance after allowing the airline to operate for months without paying salaries.

The airline, won't get the government's approval to resume flying before it pays staff salaries and submits an acceptable recovery plan, reports said.

Air India misses deadline to pay bank dues: reports

Air India has missed the September 30 deadline for repaying a consortium of 26 banks working capital loans of Rs. 74bn by raising bonds guaranteed by the government, according to reports.

Reports stated that the airline is likely to get an extension of one to three months, to repay the loan reducing its exposure to the state-owned banks.

Kingfisher Air tanks as employees go on strike, all flights canceled

Kingfisher hits lower circuit on employee concerns

International News

IATA upwardly revises global aviation outlook for 2012

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced an upward revision to its global aviation outlook for 2012. The fall in airline profits from the $8.4 billion that the industry earned in 2011 will be cushioned by improved airline performance. Airlines are expected to earn $4.1 billion in 2012 (up $1.1 billion from the $3.0 billion forecast in June). The revision will still see the industry’s net profit margins fall from the 1.4% realized in 2011 to 0.6% (up from the previously forecast 0.5%).  In a first look at 2013, the association sees global profits rising modestly to $7.5 billion, though this is a net margin of just 1.1%.

“The European sovereign debt crisis lingers on. China continues to moderate its growth. And the impact of recent quantitative easing in Japan and the US will take time to yield growth. While some of these risks have diminished slightly over recent months, they continue to take their toll on business confidence. The outlook improvement is due to airlines performing better in a difficult environment,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Improved airline performance was evident in second quarter results, which showed operating profits close to those of the previous year, following a tough first quarter. The evidence is showing that consolidation is producing positive results. Asset utilization in the passenger segment is high across many markets. In past cycles passenger load factors and aircraft utilization would have fallen by this stage, in the face of slowing demand and increasing aircraft deliveries. In the current cycle airlines have kept both load factors and aircraft utilization high. This has allowed yields to improve and spread fixed costs more widely. However, asset utilization has fallen in the weaker cargo market, adversely affecting Asia-Pacific airlines in particular, where this business makes up a larger share of total revenues.

Qatar Airways opens European Customer Contact Centre in Poland 

Qatar Airways customers contacting the airline in key European markets will benefit from a new multi-lingual Customer Contact Centre based in the Polish city of Wroclaw from early next year.

The announcement comes two months ahead of the airline’s new route to the Polish capital Warsaw, set to begin from December 5 with four-flights-a-week direct from the carrier’s Doha hub.

The servicing of customer inquiries will progressively be expanded to include E-Commerce support, Privilege Club member services and travel trade support for all major markets in Qatar Airways’ European network. Customers will be able to communicate with Qatar Airways by phone, fax, and email. The Contact Centre is due to open in February 2013.

GE aviation unit orders 87 Boeing 737 jets: reports

General Electric Co.has reportedly finalized an order for 85 737 airplanes from Boeing Co , worth about $6 billion at list prices.

The order, which includes 75 737 MAX 8s and 10 Next-Generation 737-800s, was first announced as a commitment at the Farnborough Airshow in July, reports said.

There were reports that 737 MAX is a new-engine variant of the airplane that incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines.

Maldivian announces launch of direct services from Mumbai, Chennai and Dhaka to Male

CAG, SIA and SilkAir renew partnership to boost Singapore Tourism

Qatar won't take Boeing 787s: reports

Qantas, Emirates withdraw bid for early approval: reports

Emirates offers first inflight mobile phone service Onboard A380 Aircraft

Qatar Airways resumes flights to Yangon