Dark Diwali at Kingfisher as Mallya fails to pay May salaries

MUMBAI: Around 3,000 employees of the near-bankrupt Kingfisher Airlines were left in the dark on Diwali after the management failed to pay their May salary, despite its commitment that their dues will be cleared by the festival.

"3,000 employees got a Diwali gift from chairman Vijay Mallya in the form of no salary despite his commitment," airline sources told PTI.

"It is a dark Diwali for us. The management has once again failed to keep its commitment on payment of salary dues. We did not receive salaries in our account till late last night, although the management had made tall claims of clearing our dues by the festival," the sources said.

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The airline, which is grounded since October 1 after its engineers and pilots went on strike demanding payment of their salary dues, has not paid its employees since May this year.

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The employees, however, called off their strike late last month after the airline's chief executive, Sanjay Agarwal pleaded them to return to work and assured that they will receive their three-month salaries in staggered schedule by Diwali.

Aviation regulator DGCA suspended Kingfisher's flying licence and asked the airlines to submit a revival plan if it wants to fly again.

The airline spokesperson was not available for comment.

PTI