Beleagured Kingfisher defers joining oneworld

Mumbai -  The beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines has deferred its plans to join the oneworld alliance until it can strengthen its financial position, an official said here Saturday.

The high profile airline, owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, was scheduled to become part of oneworld next Friday (Feb 10).

Bruce Ashby, CEO of oneworld, commenting on the development, admitted that these were turbulent times for the airline industry in India and many other parts of the world.

"We have been working closely with Kingfisher Airlines over the past months and it has become clear that the airline needs more time to resolve the financial issues it is confronting before  it can be welcomed into oneworld," said Ashby.

On his part, airlines chairman Vijay Mallya conceded that in view of the priorities centred around Kingfisher Airlines' re-capitalisation efforts, it was felt "prudent to defer" its entry into the  alliance for a little while.

"This will allow us the opportunity to focus on the issues at hand and we look forward to being part of the oneworld alliance very shortly," said Mallya.

Ashby assured him that oneworld would continue to work with Kingfisher Airlines and set a new joining date after it passes "through this current period of turbulence".