Over 50 pilots desert cash-strapped Kingfisher

An exodus of pilots is perhaps the reason behind cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines' recent travails. Thirty-five of its A320 commanders put in their papers on February 14 and joined rival IndiGo the next day.

The blow to the airline was worsened over the weekend as 15 more of its commanders quit. In all, between 300 and 350 KFA pilots have quit the airline in the last six months.

The impact of the resignations has hit the airline hard, but not debilitated it because it currently operates just 16 of its total fleet of 64 aircraft. Of these 16, eight are ATR aircraft and the rest A320s that operate on routes like Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Bangalore. The remaining 48 aircraft have been grounded for want of spare parts.

Industry experts said the departure of 50 commanders within a week is bound to paralyse Kingfisher's A320 aircraft flights. The carrier cancelled more than 50% of its flights on Monday, the third day of its mass flight cancellation crisis.

Kingfisher said in a media statement: "We have adequate numbers of flight and cabin crew to operate our schedule." It asserted the "prime reason for the current disruption is the sudden attachment of our bank accounts by the I-T department. This has severely affected our ability to make operational payments".

Sources said that 15 IndiGo pilots are currently grounded because of medical reasons and the airline is hard-pressed to train A320 commanders. "The Kingfisher A320 commanders who joined IndiGo last week are currently undergoing the mandatory ground training," said a source.

The last salary paid to Kingfisher Airline pilots was in the month of November. Add to this the fact that IndiGo made an offer that was too tempting to resist. The airline offered four months' salary as joining incentive, amounting to Rs 15 lakh, if one joined before February 15."

In contrast, Kingfisher Airlines' management recently sent a letter to its employees, promising a relief of Rs 5,000 to everyone since their salaries had been delayed.

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has ruled out any bail-out to rescue Kingfisher from its financial crunch.

- Asian Tribune –

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