Kingfisher Airlines has extended the suspension of flight operations – a move that began on Monday and was due to end today.
Employee unrest over working for months without payment culminated in action last weekend, where a member of Kingfisher management was physically attacked, passengers were stranded on an aircraft for hours and a strike was initiated (see story here).
This forced Kingfisher to cease all flight operations for at least four days – a deadline which has now passed.
“We regret that the illegal strike has still not been withdrawn and normalcy has not been restored in the company, thereby continuing to cripple and paralyse the working of the entire airline," said Prakash Mirpuri, vice president of corporate communications at Kingfisher Airlines, in a press statement.
Mirpuri added that the airline has been forced to extend the "partial lock-out" until October 12.
A number of airlines in India have been experiencing industrial unrest and operational difficulties this year, including the countries’ national carrier Air India, which recently resolved a 58-day pilot’s strike (see story here).
Strikes, cancelled flights, rising fuel prices and the economic downturn have caused both carriers to acquire millions of dollars worth of debt and have their bids to join alliances put on hold.
For more information visit www.flykingfisher.com
Alex Andersson
