<p>Troubled Kingfisher Airlines on Saturday cancelled a majority of its flights after its pilots went on a strike to protest non-payment of salary for nearly five months.<br /><br />As the pilots struck work for the third time in the last 12 days, Kingfisher Chairman Vijay Mallya asked the agitating staff “not to speak to the media” or “disgrace the company” as it would affect recapitalisation efforts. The airline cancelled flights from almost all destinations – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kulu, Jaipur, Shimla, Chennai, Mangalore, Hubli, Goa and Pune. </p>.<p>It had cancelled nearly 50 flights by noon. Hundreds of passengers faced the brunt of the strike although the airline said “the passengers booked on these flights have either been diverted to other flights or given refunds.”<br /><br />The airline, in a press release said: “A section of employees have decided to stay away from duties due to salary not being credited to the bank accounts of all employees by Friday. Kingfisher wishes to state that more than 75 per cent of employees have actually received their promised salaries on Friday.”<br /><br />“We have promised that the balance of our employees will receive their salaries by Monday”, the spokesman added in the release. Kingfisher has taken care to inform passengers in advance and will offer full co-operation in re-booking and refund, it said.<br /><br />Faced with massive losses, Kingfisher is now operating around 15 aircraft in place of its fleet of 64 and has drastically cut its domestic and international operations.<br /><br />The pilots’ strike comes days after the civil aviation ministry shunted out DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan who was said to have taken a tough posture on Kingfisher affairs. <br /><br />Bhushan was said to have asked the airline in July first week to pay salaries in full within 15 days or face licence withdrawal.<br /></p>
<p>Troubled Kingfisher Airlines on Saturday cancelled a majority of its flights after its pilots went on a strike to protest non-payment of salary for nearly five months.<br /><br />As the pilots struck work for the third time in the last 12 days, Kingfisher Chairman Vijay Mallya asked the agitating staff “not to speak to the media” or “disgrace the company” as it would affect recapitalisation efforts. The airline cancelled flights from almost all destinations – Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kulu, Jaipur, Shimla, Chennai, Mangalore, Hubli, Goa and Pune. </p>.<p>It had cancelled nearly 50 flights by noon. Hundreds of passengers faced the brunt of the strike although the airline said “the passengers booked on these flights have either been diverted to other flights or given refunds.”<br /><br />The airline, in a press release said: “A section of employees have decided to stay away from duties due to salary not being credited to the bank accounts of all employees by Friday. Kingfisher wishes to state that more than 75 per cent of employees have actually received their promised salaries on Friday.”<br /><br />“We have promised that the balance of our employees will receive their salaries by Monday”, the spokesman added in the release. Kingfisher has taken care to inform passengers in advance and will offer full co-operation in re-booking and refund, it said.<br /><br />Faced with massive losses, Kingfisher is now operating around 15 aircraft in place of its fleet of 64 and has drastically cut its domestic and international operations.<br /><br />The pilots’ strike comes days after the civil aviation ministry shunted out DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan who was said to have taken a tough posture on Kingfisher affairs. <br /><br />Bhushan was said to have asked the airline in July first week to pay salaries in full within 15 days or face licence withdrawal.<br /></p>
