Kingfisher staff urge Royal Challengers Bangalore to boycott IPL

New Delhi/Bangalore, Apr.2 (ANI): Staff members of Kingfisher Airlines have reportedly appealed to players turning out for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise-Royal Challengers Bangalore - not to fly on Kingfisher flights till their salary dues and other demands are cleared by the airline's management.

The appeal came as Kingfisher Chairman Vijay Mallya wrote to the employees saying junior staff would be paid before Easter on April 4 and all pilots and engineers will be paid on April 9 and April 10 respectively.

Mallya said in his letter to Kingfisher employees: "Further to my earlier mail and media statement, I am pleased to advise you that the formalities of un-freezing our bank accounts was completed yesterday following our payment of Rs.44 crores to the Income Tax and Rs.20 crores to the Service Tax authorities before March 31st.

"My only focus now is to start paying your seriously overdue salaries. All junior staff will be paid before Easter ie on Wednesday April 4th. All Pilots and Engineers will be paid on Monday April 9th and Tuesday April 10th."

All the credit goes to each one of you who have gone to great personal sacrifice for the best interests of your company and your guests.

We need to re-build confidence and earn the trust from our guests back again. I have been overwhelmed with emotion to receive several mails from our King Club members expressing continuing loyalty and wishing that we quickly regain our position as India's single largest Airline. This will not be possible without your continued efforts, commitment and goodwill towards your company. Please stand by me and strengthen my hands.

Kingfisher has been closing down offices across India temporarily due to curtailment of flights from 64 aircraft to 16 aircraft.

Earlier, Kingfisher Airlines had decided to suspend all international flights from March 25 and further curtail domestic operations even as the government warned the ailing carrier that its flying license could be cancelled if it failed to meet safety norms.

Kingfisher has a total debt of about Rs.7, 000 crore and accumulated losses of about Rs.6, 000 crore. (ANI)