Employees of the beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines feel that Diwali couldn’t have come at a better time.
The employees are hopeful that the deal between Diageo and United Spirits could give a fresh lease of life to the cash strapped airline, even though the airline chairman Vijay Mallya has said that the deal is independent of Kingfisher.
The airline employees have been given the promised two month’s salary – of March and April – and are now waiting for the third month’s salary which is expected on November 12, a day before Diwali.
“We don’t know yet if the chairman is ready to invest the money in Kingfisher Airlines or not but all of us are definitely hopeful that this would mean good news for us,” said an employee who didn’t wish to be named. “The shares of the airlines have also gained after the deal and there is definitely a reason to cheer,” he said.
“All of us feel that some of the money from the deal should definitely be put into the airlines. Everyone is ready to help in resurrecting the airlines, including the banks and if the management wants to really do something, this is the time,” he said.
“The flights are not operating and we are just carrying out regular maintenance work of the aircraft. The news of the deal comes as a ray of hope amidst the gloom,” said another employee. “If there is money in the pockets of the owners now, they should invest some in the airlines too,” he said.