Kingfisher to finally pay employees

Nearly 72 pilots went on a mass sick leave on Thursday protesting nonpayment of salaries since December

Source Asian News International (ANI)

May 11, 2012

2 min read

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya on Friday said that he had written to his employees, including pilots', and assured them that their long-overdue salaries would be disbursed from Friday.

Nearly 72 pilots based in north India went on a mass sick leave on Thursday protesting non-payment of salaries since December, and were even trying to convince their counterparts in Mumbai to follow suit.

Twenty-four Kingfisher Airline flights have been cancelled since Thursday.

Mallya is hoping to tide over the present crisis.

In his letter, Mallya wrote: "I am very encouraged with recent meetings... I am confident we will bounce back. The UB (United Brewries) Group infused cash of Rs.500 crores into KFA over the past 15 months. Long overdue salary payments have commenced from today."

"I received confirmation that several staff accounts were credited today," Mallya added.

"I was hurt, disappointed as few employees chose the path of threat, confrontation... Actions by a few put the company at risk. I will not allow a small group of misguided employees to derail and jeopardise efforts. I will act firmly, decisively to protect KFA," Mallya wrote.

Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said, "Kingfisher has been having financial trouble for quite some time. They are a private airline and have to help themselves. The whole aviation industry is in trouble. For that, I will speak to the PM also." (ANI)