<p>The cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines is staring at an uncertain future with prospects of a shutdown looming large, as the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) summoned CEO Sanjay Agarwal for a review of its operations and safety measures.<br /><br /></p>.<p> Agarwal is likely to meet DGCA chief Arun Mishra on Tuesday.<br /><br />Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Monday gave enough hints on the government’s plans for the carrier, saddled in debts at present, as he said the ministry will consider a shut down if the fleet size drops below five from the present seven and “airworthiness was in doubt.” <br /><br />For an aircraft to take off, engineers have to certify it as “airworthy.” Mishra told reporters: “We will review the situation of the Kingfisher Airline. The situation of the airline’s operations will be reported to and discussed with the ministry. We are monitoring the situation.”<br /><br />Meanwhile, the carrier late on Monday night declared a partial lock-out with immediate effect and suspended till Thursday flight operations which came to a grinding halt following a strike by a section of its employees.<br /><br />In a statement, the Vijay Mallya-owned carrier said it has been forced to declare a “partial lockout” following a series of “protracted and unabated incidents of violence, criminal intimidation, assault, wrongful restraint and other illegal acts” including refraining from attending work, by a small section of “recalcitrant” employees.<br /><br />The airline said the action by the employees resulting in a complete paralysis of operations were all “unnecessary and unprovoked.” <br /><br />The aircraft maintenance engineers launched a strike on Friday and pilots progressively joined. The employees struck work demanding immediate payment of salary, due for six months now. The airline, which had a fleet of 64 aircraft not long ago, is reeling under a debt of Rs 7,000 crore.<br /> </p>
<p>The cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines is staring at an uncertain future with prospects of a shutdown looming large, as the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) summoned CEO Sanjay Agarwal for a review of its operations and safety measures.<br /><br /></p>.<p> Agarwal is likely to meet DGCA chief Arun Mishra on Tuesday.<br /><br />Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Monday gave enough hints on the government’s plans for the carrier, saddled in debts at present, as he said the ministry will consider a shut down if the fleet size drops below five from the present seven and “airworthiness was in doubt.” <br /><br />For an aircraft to take off, engineers have to certify it as “airworthy.” Mishra told reporters: “We will review the situation of the Kingfisher Airline. The situation of the airline’s operations will be reported to and discussed with the ministry. We are monitoring the situation.”<br /><br />Meanwhile, the carrier late on Monday night declared a partial lock-out with immediate effect and suspended till Thursday flight operations which came to a grinding halt following a strike by a section of its employees.<br /><br />In a statement, the Vijay Mallya-owned carrier said it has been forced to declare a “partial lockout” following a series of “protracted and unabated incidents of violence, criminal intimidation, assault, wrongful restraint and other illegal acts” including refraining from attending work, by a small section of “recalcitrant” employees.<br /><br />The airline said the action by the employees resulting in a complete paralysis of operations were all “unnecessary and unprovoked.” <br /><br />The aircraft maintenance engineers launched a strike on Friday and pilots progressively joined. The employees struck work demanding immediate payment of salary, due for six months now. The airline, which had a fleet of 64 aircraft not long ago, is reeling under a debt of Rs 7,000 crore.<br /> </p>
