Kingfisher Airlines cancels dozens of flights

Kingfisher Airlines canceled scores of flights across India on Monday after its pilots refused to work in protest at unpaid salaries. At least 40 flights across India were canceled after the airline’s pilots called in sick. Thirteen flights from India’s financial capital, Mumbai, and three flights from New Delhi were among the 40 canceled. Kingfisher has blamed the tax department for its woes. The airline said in a statement that delays in paying salaries happened because the company’s bank accounts had been frozen by tax authorities. It said the airline was making efforts to remedy what it called a “temporary situation.” Kingfisher has been struggling with a huge financial debt of $1.3 billion. In the past few months the airline has grounded planes, failed to pay staff and canceled flights. It has been in the red since beginning operations in 2005. Last week the airline was suspended from the International Air Transport Association’s payment clearinghouse because of unpaid bills. The system allows airlines to divide the money from codeshare flights or multi-leg journeys involving several carriers. Kingfisher also blamed the disruption in payments to IATA on its bank accounts being frozen by tax authorities.