Gopinath sells part of stake in Kingfisher

Bangalore: Capt G R Gopinath, one of the largest individual shareholders in Kingfisher Airlines, has sold a portion of his shares in the company. From November 3 to 7, Gopinath sold 19,29,995 shares as per information available on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) websites, mopping up a little over Rs 5 crore in five days.
Again, on November 10 and 11, he sold an additional 3,62,628 shares mopping up about Rs 1 crore.
What's intriguing is that he sold when the share price was trading at a very low level of around Rs 30. The share price is down by 35% from a month ago, when it was trading at Rs 42.60. It had touched a 52-week high of Rs 335 on December 19, 2007.
After the current selling spree, the aviation entrepreneur holds a 4.65% equity stake in the airline, down from his stake of 5.41% as on November 3.
As per information on NSE for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, 3.65% of Gopinath's total equity holdings in Kingfisher Airlines is under lock-in. Despite repeated attempts, Gopinath was not available for a comment. Multiple investment banking sources though have told TOI that Gopinath is looking at raising funds in his personal capacity to kick-start his cargo venture.
20/11/08 Anshul Dhamija & Asha Rai/Times of India

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Pilot admits mistake

Calcutta: The pilot of a Kingfisher flight had mistakenly steered it too close to the city airport’s secondary runway while another flight was about to land on Wednesday afternoon. The Calcutta airport authorities have stated this in a report to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Delhi.
“The Kingfisher pilot admitted his fault in his flight safety report. The aircraft should have waited behind the holding point on the taxiway,” said a senior airport official on Thursday.
“We have sent our report to the DGCA. The next course of action will depend on their response,” he added.
Kingfisher officials were unavailable for comment.
The airline’s flight to Aizwal had been asked to wait until a Jet Airways flight from Guwahati landed and cleared the runway. But the Kingfisher pilot overshot the holding point forcing the other plane to hover in the air.
Air traffic controllers had sent a message to the Kingfisher pilot asking him to back away behind the holding point. Once he complied, the Jet flight landed.
07/11/08 The Telegraph

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Collision averted at NSC Bose Airport

Kolkata: A major collision on the secondary runway at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport was averted after an aircraft, waiting at taxi point for its turn to take off, rolled onto one side of the secondary runway where another aircraft was going to land.
When Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials noticed the nose of the aircraft on the ground jutting into the runway, they asked the aircraft coming in to land to ‘Go Round’ thus averting a collision.
More than 100 lives were saved. Sources said the incident happened around 12.55pm when the Guwahati-Kolkata Jet Airways flight was preparing to land. A Kingfisher Red (erstwhile Deccan) flight from Kolkata to Aizwal was getting ready for take off.
A higher AAI official on Wednesday said, “It seems that the Kingfisher Red pilot made the mistake and therefore the aircraft rolled onto the runway.”
“It was not cleared to go into the runway and was asked hold (stop and wait) at the taxiway (D-taxiway). The DGCA is being informed and all necessary actions will be taken,” the official said.
05/11/08 Hindustan Times

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Air Deccan tops passenger complaint list

New Delhi: Country’s first low-cost airline Air Deccan, now Kingfisher Red, has the rather uncomplimentary distinction of having the highest number of passenger complaints registered against it for deficiency in services.
As per the latest Civil Aviation Ministry figures, 36 passenger complaints have been received against Air Deccan this year, followed by Jet Airways with 14 such complaints.
“Passenger complaints are received on various issues like missing or lost baggage, refund of tickets in case of delays or cancellation or even denial of facilities like wheel chair, meals in case of delayed flights among others,” a Ministry official said.
Interestingly in 2007, 105 passenger complaints were received against Air Deccan whereas the next highest number of 27 was against Jet Lite.
From 2005 till September this year, a total of 215 complaints have been received against the first low-cost airline, followed by 64 against Jet Lite and 49 against SpiceJet.
02/11/08 PTI/Livemint

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