Bird-hits cause airlines 7 cr loss

New Delhi, Nov 19: An alarming number of 241 bird-hit cases has led airlines to incur a loss of over Rs seven crore, with Kingfisher airlines suffering the highest number of 60 bird-hit cases according to figures released by Civil Aviation Ministry on Nov 18.

Taking into account the number of bird-hit cases till Oct, the report said that airlines in India has suffered an estimated financial loss of Rs 6.98crore in 2009 so far.

However aircraft of International airlines has suffered only 34 instances of bird-hit cases.

While the amount of loss incurred by Kingfisher and Air India is unavailable, it has been reported that Jet Airways suffered a loss of Rs 8.91lakhs, Indigo of Rs 87 lakhs, Spice Jet of Rs 5.57 crore and GoAir of Rs 45.6 lakhs.

The number of bird hit cases in 2008 figured around 304, in 2007 and 2006 it was 217 and 167 respectively.

To control the number of bird hit cases the National Bird Control Committee (NBCC), set up by Ministry of Civil Aviation on the recommendation of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

On Nov 18