The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has refused to allot additional space at Kolkata airport to Vijay Mallya-led Kinfisher Airlines, asking it to first pay dues totalling Rs 174 crore (till July 2009).
The airline owes the amount to AAI towards airport charges, landing and parking fees, among others. Kingfisher’s dues are the highest among other domestic airlines. Jet Airways — country’s largest private carrier — owes about Rs 30 crore to AAI.
“We are not going to allot any additional space to Kingfisher until they clear all their dues. It owes us the most. Overall, private carriers have an outstanding bill of about Rs 272 crore, Kingfisher alone has to pay Rs 174 crore,” a senior AAI official, who did not wish to be named, told Financial Chronicle.
AAI has already sent a letter to the airline, expressing its unwillingness to give it extra slots. “We have already told them about it. If they (Kingfisher) agree and make some payments in this regard, then only will we consider their requirements,” the official said.
When contacted, a Kingfisher official refused to comment on the issue.
Every airline keeps a certain amount with AAI as security deposit depending on its dues. While Jet Airways has a security deposit of Rs 40 crore, Kingfisher has deposited Rs 100 crore as security money with AAI.
The official said that even in the past, Kingfisher’s dues have exceeded its security amount. However, the carrier has managed to clear a major chunk of dues. “It is not that they do not pay. But delay in payments makes it difficult for us to maintain our cash flows,” the official said.
Considering that Kolkata is the transit hub for people travelling from Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Patna, and Ranchi to various global destinations, it assumes significance in Kingfisher’s scheme of international operations. The airline flies to Dhaka and Bangkok from Kolkata.
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