Lenders Sound Death Knell for Kingfisher
AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE » AUGUST 19, 2013 by NEELAM MATHEWS United Breweries Group chairman Vijay Mallya launched Kingfisher Airlines in 2005. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) August 19, 2013, 12:45 PM The death knell for India’s Kingfisher Airlines sounded as lender banks took possession of the airline’s 25,850-sq-ft headquarters property in Mumbai on August 10. Carrying some $1 billion in outstanding debt, liquor tsar Vijay Mallya and his United Breweries Group have seen wholly owned Kingfisher accumulate $2.6 billion in losses since its launch in 2005. Most recently, it registered a loss of $188 million for the quarter running from April to June. Once again it collected no revenue due to its grounding on October 1 of last year. It still technically employs some 2,000 people, none of whom it has paid for the past 10 months, and retains a fleet of 15 airplanes out its former complement of 66, including three self-o...