Kingfisher crisis ends

"All our employees will resume work today, including the pilots and engineers. We will now on continue to work together," airline CEO Sanjay Aggarwal told reporters after holding separate meetings with striking pilots and engineers at the airport here.

Engineers' representative Subhash Chandra Mishra said, "we are joining duty from today. We have accepted the management's proposal for a staggered payment of four months salary dues by December." A representative of the striking pilots also said they will resume work immediately.

Resumption of Kingfisher's flight operations may take at least three to four weeks as the airline has to get its suspended flying license revoked by the DGCA which also has to satisfy itself on safety issues as well as the viability of their financial and operational plans.

Under the agreement arrived at, the management, which was earlier offering only three months salaries, climbed down to accept the workers' demand for payment of four out of seven months' dues by December end.

While the March salary would be paid within 24 hours, the April salary would be paid by October 31, May dues before Diwali in mid-November and June salary by December end.

The salary dues from July to September would be paid by March next year after recapitalisation of the airline, the agitating staff said.

The management also withdrew its circular asking the staffers to give a written undertaking before resuming duty. (more)