India's Civil Aviation Ministry withdraws Kingfisher international bilateral rights, domestic slots

India's Minister of Civil Aviation Ajit Singh stated (25-Feb-2013) the international bilateral traffic rights allocated to Kingfisher Airlines will be withdrawn with immediate effect. Under the rights, Kingfisher Airlines was permitted to operate to eight countries namely Bangladesh (14 services per week), Hong Kong (14 services per week), Nepal (seven services per week), Singapore (seven services per week), Sri Lanka (14 services per week plus 21 services per week from 18 destinations), Thailand (21 services per week), UAE (Dubai) (21 services per week) and UK (seven services per week each from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore). These traffic rights were allocated to Kingfisher Airlines between 2008 and 2011. These international traffic rights have been withdrawn from Kingfisher Airlines on account of non-utilisation by the airline. The Civil Aviation Minister has decided to make these traffic rights available to other carriers for use. 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. Similarly it has also been decided to withdraw the domestic slots which were allocated to Kingfisher Airlines at different airports for domestic flights. Airports Authority of India has been directed to make these slots available to other domestic carriers as per their demand. [more - original PR]