Kingfisher Airlines Loses Rights To Fly To Dubai

India’s Kingfisher Airlines has ceased serving the UAE after the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation withdrew the carrier’s international flying rights and domestic slots on Tuesday.

The airline had been allocated traffic rights by India’s aviation governing body around five years ago to fly 21 times a week into Dubai.

A statement issued by the ministry said that Shri Ajit Singh, minister of civil aviation, “has decided to withdraw all International Bilateral Traffic Rights allocated to Kingfisher Airlines with immediate effect”.

As well as Dubai, the carrier will no longer service Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the UK. The traffic rights will be handed over to other Indian carriers.

“These international traffic rights have been withdrawn from Kingfisher Airlines on account of non-utilisation by the airlines,” the statement read.

“This would give additional availability of approximately 25,000 seats per week for use by other Indian carriers to these eight countries, some of which are much in demand by these carriers.”

The revoking of its international flying rights is the latest blow to the carrier after it lost its license at the end of last year.

The airline has been grounded since October 1 following staff protests and refusal of banks to grant fresh loans.

The carrier has been in discussion with various investors, including Gulf carriers, for equity investments but so far nothing has materialised.

Kingfisher, which launched in 2005, had been due to join the Oneworld alliance, but its membership was put on hold.