Kingfisher selling tickets depsite DGCA order

Kingfisher Airlines started accepting bookings even as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked the carrier to cease the sale after the airline extended the partial lock-out till 12 October. The carrier, however, continues to accept bookings on its web site beyond that date.

The airline, however, has put out a notice on its web site saying that all its flights are subject to regulatory approval.

Last Friday, DGCA Arun Mishra had, in a show-cause notice issued to the airline, asked why its operating permit should not be suspended after the employee protests over unpaid salaries crippled its services. The airline had been directed by Mishra not to accept fresh bookings till the regulator reviewed the airline's operation plans.

He said the carrier had to satisfy the DGCA with operations plan.

However, the directive notwithstanding, the airline continued to accept bookings and tickets were available on Mumbai-Delhi route from 13 October.

Travel portals, including Yatra.com, had already stopped bookings of the airline and Business Standard quoted an executive from Yatra.com as saying that the portal suspended the bookings after the airline extended the lockout till 12th. He said customer confidence was low considering the uncertainty about the airline.