Kingfisher Airlines staff protests outside Mumbai airport

Mumbai: Nearly 70 staffers of the beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines began protesting outside the Mumbai airport on Monday morning demanding payment of salaries. Their protest march will end at Kingfisher House which is adjacent to the airport. The protesting staff members said that the management had communicated with them so far over measures being taken to address their grievances.

The airline has temporarily locked down its operations and grounded its fleet till October 12 after a strike by a section of its employees earlier last week led to flight cancellations. The airlines issued a statement saying, "We regret that the illegal strike has still not been withdrawn and normalcy has not been restored in the company, thereby continuing to cripple and paralyse the working of the entire airline. In light of this, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd has been constrained to extend the partial lock-out which commenced from 1st of October up to Friday the 12th of October, 2012."

Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has said that Kingfisher Airlines will have to take permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to fly. "We have made it clear that Kingfisher has to get DGCA's permission if it wants to fly. Certified engineers have to approve it and the employees issue has to be sorted out," Ajit Singh said.

The protest march by nearly 70 staff members will end at Kingfisher House which is adjacent to the airport.

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