New Delhi: Even though the cash-trapped Kingfisher Airlines has shut down some of its offices temporarily and curtailed operations the company says that there have been no lay-offs but most employees have been asked to stay home for now while remaining on the company's rolls.
"We would dearly like to retain our staff who have remained incredibly dedicated and loyal under extremely trying circumstances. Our immediate priority is to access our funds to pay outstanding staff salaries," Kingfisher said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
In the statement Kingfisher said that the company had paid Rs 44 crore TDS dues to the Income Tax Department as directed by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Bangalore and added that the government's decision on FDI and working capital funding would have an impact on its operations.
Kingfisher Airlines on Tuesday announced that during the 2012 summer it would operate approximately 120 daily flights with 20 aircraft. The company if currently using just 16 aircraft, down from 64.
The company said that it had put a "holding plan" in place pending re-capitalisation and return to full utilisation of the aircraft fleet.
In this "holding plan" Kingfisher claimed to have taken adequate care to ensure that part of the company's inter-metro schedule is retained, while connectivity is maintained to many cities where it is the sole operator in "public interest".
Full text of the statement:
Mumbai, March 27, 2012
Kingfisher Airlines has begun the 2012 summer schedule operating approximately 120 daily flights with 20 dedicated aircraft.
This is a "holding plan" that we have put in place pending re-capitalisation and return to full utilisation of the aircraft fleet. In this "holding plan" we have taken adequate care to ensure that part of our core inter-metro schedule is retained, while connectivity is maintained to many cities where we are the sole operator. This is to ensure that public interest is not compromised.
In the current schedule, we have taken care to ensure that we maintain schedule integrity with 100% reliability. The DGCA are also monitoring our safety standards on a constant basis. This will give guests the required comfort to confidently book and fly with us.
As a result of this "holding plan", there are several stations to which operations have been temporarily suspended. There are, however, skeletal staff present at such airports to assist guests who may have been previously booked to fly with us and come to the airport. Our staff will assist them in re-booking their travel or processing refunds.
Since we could resume operations after getting re-capitalised, most staff at these stations have been asked to stay at home whilst remaining on the Company's rolls.
There is however much speculation on whether we are going to lay off a large number of our staff. To clarify, we are in a "holding" pattern right now and are waiting for various decisions from the Government and our Consortium of Bankers on FDI policy, working capital funding, etc. All of these will have a major impact on the staffing decisions we will have to make.
We would dearly like to retain our staff who have remained incredibly dedicated and loyal under extremely trying circumstances. Our immediate priority is to access our funds to pay outstanding staff salaries.
We would also like to state, that as directed by the Honourable Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Bangalore, we have paid a sum of Rs 44 crores towards TDS dues which was due on or before March 27, 2012.
Our keen intent is to get re-capitalised and to bounce back as a major player in Civil Aviation which is a major public utility service providing vital connectivity, large scale employment, competition for consumer benefit and contributing to the economic growth of India.
We will also protect the interests of all stakeholders, suppliers and service providers as an integral part of our recapitalization plans.
We thank our trade partners and valuable guests for their support during these difficult times and wish to assure them of our commitment to provide reliable, safe and on time operations.
Prakash Mirpuri
Vice President - Corporate Communications
Kingfisher Airlines Limited
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