Mallya defends Kingfisher, more flights axed; PM to meet Vayalar Ravi

Defending Kingfisher Airlines, which has cancelled several flights this week while struggling with a pilot exodus and huge debts, promoter Vijay Mallya on Saturday asked whether it was his carrier's duty to fly on non-profitable routes in a heavily taxed environment even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government will find ways to help the airline.
The prime minister's statement came as even as Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi denied any bailout package for the airline on the pattern of national carrier Air India.
"Is it Kingfisher's duty to fly on loss making routes, when state governments tax heavily? Or should we be financially prudent and fly profitably," Mallya posted on his micro-blogging site Twitter account.
"Every government has gone out of the way to support airlines and connectivity. In India, airlines are over taxed and over charged, wonder why," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Ravi said: "This is to clarify that no such bailout package is pending before the government nor has been proposed by ministry of civil aviation for the Kingfisher Airlines."
13/11/11 IANS/Business Today

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Kingfisher Nov 2011