Beleagured Kingfisher defers joining oneworld
February 4th, 2012 - 3:43 pm ICT by IANSMumbai, Feb 4 (IANS) The beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines has deferred its plans to join the oneworld alliance until it can strengthen its financial position, an official said here Saturday.
The high profile airline, owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, was scheduled to become part of oneworld next Friday (Feb 10).
Bruce Ashby, CEO of oneworld, commenting on the development, admitted that these were turbulent times for the airline industry in India and many other parts of the world.
“We have been working closely with Kingfisher Airlines over the past months and it has become clear that the airline needs more time to resolve the financial issues it is confronting before it can be welcomed into oneworld,” said Ashby.
On his part, airlines chairman Vijay Mallya conceded that in view of the priorities centred around Kingfisher Airlines’ re-capitalisation efforts, it was felt “prudent to defer” its entry into the alliance for a little while.
“This will allow us the opportunity to focus on the issues at hand and we look forward to being part of the oneworld alliance very shortly,” said Mallya.
Ashby assured him that oneworld would continue to work with Kingfisher Airlines and set a new joining date after it passes “through this current period of turbulence”.
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- Kingfisher member-elect of Oneworld global airline alliance - Jun 07, 2010
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- Kingfisher Airlines, Finnair enhance frequent flyer cooperation - Mar 18, 2011
- Kingfisher ties-up with American Airlines - Nov 03, 2011
- Finnair not averse to Kingfisher's direct flights to Helsinki - Sep 14, 2011
- Mallya to ground low-cost Kingfisher Red in four months - Sep 28, 2011
- No international operations until transaction suspension revoked: Mallya - Mar 21, 2012
- Kingfisher's firm operating schedule in a few days: Mallya - Mar 15, 2012
- Kingfisher 1,000 percent safe: Mallya - Jan 07, 2012
- Banks seek more details on Kingfisher's operations - Nov 13, 2011
- Star Alliance to decide Air India's induction date Sunday (Lead) - Jul 30, 2011
- Kingfisher Airlines launches nine new domestic flights - Jun 11, 2011
- Mallya summoned by DGCA to explain Kingfisher status - Mar 19, 2012
- Unfair to write Kingfisher's epitaph: Mallya (Lead) - Nov 15, 2011
Tags: airline industry, bruce ashby, ceo, financial position, high profile, India, kingfisher, kingfisher airlines, liquor baron, next friday, oneworld alliance, priorities, turbulence, turbulent times, vijay mallya