New
Delhi, Aug. 4:
A tussle is on between theAirports Authority of
India (AAI) and anaircraft leasing firm, which wants to take back three
ATRaircraft (small turboprop planes) that were being operated by
KingfisherAirlines.
The leasing company has written to AAI seeking
permission to take back the threeaircraft parked in Chennaiairport, as
Kingfisher has not been able to meet its lease payments.
AAI has told the leasing company that Kingfisher
owed it also over Rs 260 crore. Allowing the leasing company to take
theseaircraft would reduce AAI’s chances of recovering its dues from the
cash-strapped private sectorairline. At present, Kingfisher is being allowed to
operate its flights from AAIairports only after it pays in advance for using
the various facilities, such as parking and navigation charges, sources said.
"We are seeking a legal opinion on how to
move forward," a senior AAI official told Business Line.
This is not the first time that
Kingfisheraircraft are sought to be repossessed. In March, a law firm wrote to
the authorities seeking deregistration and return of five ATRaircraft.
The decision to repossessaircraft has seen
Kingfisher curtail the number of its daily flight drastically. It now operates
about 100 flights daily, down from over 400 at the beginning of the year. It
has completely withdrawn from the international market. Kingfisher, which had
63aircraft earlier, now has 13 operational.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3727774.ece?homepage=true
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