Amid KF woes, Emirates readies India flight plan CENTRE OWES `574CR TO AIR INDIA: MINISTER

Even as Kingfisher is in deep financial doldrums, the chairman of the Gulfbased Emirates airline group met civil aviation minister, Mr Ajit Singh, on Thursday amid indications that the airline could make investments in India.

Meanwhile, the civil aviation ministry has also asked the DGCA for additional data regarding Kingfisher before the aviation regulator makes an all-important recommendation to the Government on whether the operating licence of Kingfisher should be allowed to remain valid or not.

Mr Ajit Singh, meanwhile, was also quoted as telling a TV channel that it is upto Kingfisher chairman, Mr Vijay Mallya, whether he wants to continue in the aviation business or not.

But the minister also reiterated the rule-book that an airline has to operate at least five planes and have a certain amount as equity in order to operate as long as air-safety is not jeopardised in any way.

So far as the meeting between the Emirates chairman and Mr Ajit Singh is concerned, speculation is rife that Emirates could be one of the carriers that could pick up stake in Kingfisher once the Government clears a policy for allowing FDI by foreign airlines upto 49 per cent in any Indian carrier.

Emirates also carries a large number of passengers between India and the Gulf as per the existing bilateral rights.

“I am not talking specifically about Kingfisher Airlines ... (but) am open to investment,” chairman of Emirates Group, Mr Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum, was quoted by news agencies as saying. New Delhi, March 22: Air India is owed a sum of over `574 crore in outstanding dues by different ministries and departments, the civil aviation minister, Mr Ajit Singh, said on Thursday.

“The outstanding amount to be collected by Air India from the various ministries/departments of government and government agencies as on March 15, 2012 is approximately `574.67 crores,” Mr Singh said in the Rajya Sabha.

In response to another question, Singh said that a strike by pilots agitating against non-payment of salaries and flying allowance on January 14 this year had cost the national carrier `5. 8 crore.

— PTI