The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the apex body for the global airline industry, has initiated discussions with the cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines on the terms on which the carrier can be reinstated into its clearing house.

The Geneva-based body had earlier this month suspended the carrier from its billing and settlement plans over non-payment of dues. This meant that none of the IATA-affiliated travel agents across the world would provide services like booking or selling tickets for Kingfisher Airlines.

Mr Tony Tyler, IATA Director-General, said, “Kingfisher Airlines is a member of IATA and we want to help them get reinstated to the system”. He was hopeful that the airline will be able to overcome its current difficulties.

“We had to suspend Kingfisher from the travel agency clearing house. It was necessary to protect the whole system. It is the system we operate on behalf of hundreds of airlines,” he told mediapersons on the sidelines of the India Aviation 2012 today.

Mr Tyler was, however, not willing to share the terms that were being discussed between the association and the airlines.

Replying to a question, he said suspension of the airline from the clearing house is not an unprecedented move, as it happens globally after airlines failed to meet payment obligations.

amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

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