DGCA summons Mallya, KFA risks losing permit

The DGCA summoned KFA promoter Vijay Mallya on Tuesday, seeking an explanation on the state of the airline. Government sources told HT on Monday that the DGCA would decide on its final recommendation on KFA to the aviation ministry after the meeting. KFA independent director quits board

The fate of Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) hangs in the balance as the aviation industry regulator, DGCA, is considering the cancellation of its operating permit.

The directorate general of civil aviation summoned KFA promoter Vijay Mallya on Tuesday, seeking an explanation on the state of the airline. Government sources told HT on Monday that the DGCA would decide on its final recommendation on KFA to the aviation ministry after the meeting.

The airline is barely managing to operate half of its daily schedule of 200 flights against its winter schedule of 418 flights.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked KFA to pay in advance for each departing flight from Tuesday midnight after KFA failed to clear airport dues. Operations at all civilian airports, except Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Cochin, are controlled by AAI.

The DGCA, which recommended the airline’s closure in a December report, found KFA’s reply to a show-cause notice — asking why it should be allowed to continue operations — unsatisfactory.

“All three recovery plans submitted by KFA have flopped. We’re are extremely concerned,” a government source said.