DGCA issues showcause notice to Kingfisher Airlines

, Oct 6: The grounded

(KFA) suffered another blow on Friday when the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (

) issued it a showcause notice, seeking explanation on why its licence should not be suspended or scrapped for failing to ensure safe, efficient and reliable services under Section 15(2)(b) of Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules of 1937. The KFA has been given 15 days to respond to the notice.

DGCA chief Arun Mishra said he had reviewed the situation on Friday and the decision to issue the showcause notice was based on the KFA's performance over the last 10 months or so. Mishra said the KFA's ongoing crisis has caused huge problem for the travellers. He added that the partial lock-out in the airline that took effect on October 1 was a significant blow.

On Tuesday, during his meeting with Mishra, the KFA CEO was asked to submit an operational plan to the DGCA. Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said no flights would be allowed unless the aircraft were checked and certified by qualified engineers. The DGCA is yet to get any plan, reports said.

The minister said that the DGCA was studying the implications of the strike called by the KFA employees over non-payment of salaries for the past seven months and also sought legal opinion before deciding to slap a showcause notice to the airliner.

OneIndia News