The suspension of Kingfisher Airlines licence seems imminent and could happen before Monday, when a meeting is scheduled between the management and employees to find a way out of the lock-out.

This is the view that is emerging after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) went through the reply that Kingfisher gave to its show-cause notice on why the airline’s licence should not be suspended or cancelled as it had failed to establish a “safe, efficient and reliable service”.

“The airline’s reply is open ended. It seeks time but does not say how much time it requires. We are taking a legal view and speaking to our officials and will take a decision on what action should be taken,” sources said.

Government officials maintained that there was no question of waiting for the outcome of Monday’s meeting before taking a decision on Kingfisher’s licence, as the regulator had not been officially informed about the meeting.

Suspension of Kingfisher’s licence will mean that the airline will have to immediately stop taking bookings for its flights. “Generally suspension stays till further orders,” a senior official said, when asked when the airline will be allowed to fly again.

If its licence is suspended, Kingfisher will be able to take to the skies again only after convincing the DGCA about its preparedness, financial status and safety record.

However, if the airline’s licence is cancelled, it will have to start from scratch including approaching the Ministry of Civil Aviation for a fresh licence and going through several other regulatory approvals including importing aircraft before it can start operations, sources said.

According to sources, the airline’s four-part reply to the DGCA includes how industrial unrest affected its operations, how foreign airlines and investors are interested in the airline and its safety record. The reply from the airline’s Executive Vice-President Hitesh Patel also seeks more time and a plea to meet with the DGCA in person.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the airline said that it had extended the partial lock-out till October 23.

“We have cancelled flights till November 5 and hope to resume operations by November 6,” the airline said in a statement. It suspended operations on October 1.

ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in

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