Jet, Set, Go

Give aviation a level playing field and watch it fly

Jet, Set, Go

"Reform-based steps are in order" in the aviation sector. The editorial recommends that the Air India enjoy no more privileges, and that if they "can't do without coddling," they should be privatized, so as to create a level playing field.

-The Times of India, March 22, 2012

Allow Kingfisher to fly into the sunset

The end of the runway appears well nigh for Kingfisher at the moment but there are still those who believe it should not be allowed to fail, and this includes the government.

The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Allow Kingfisher to fly into the sunset: "It is becoming increasingly clear that Kingfisher Airlines is well beyond rescue and only a miracle can save it. "

Either Vijay Mallya, the high-flying promoter of the airline agrees to put his money where his mouth is. Unlikely, since he has reportedly refused to give a personal guarantee sought by banks to refinance the company.

Or Kingfisher is able to attract an investor — domestic or foreign, airline or non-airline — with deep pockets and strong guts to take on the balance-sheet of a company splattered in red all over, which is as unlikely.

Kingfisher's exit could restore some sanity in the industry and the ticket prices which are currently low. Of course, the government has to keep a sharp watch to ensure that airline companies do not exploit the situation.

Public money is not to save private ventures

The editorial asks the government to take a tough stand on the Kingfisher airline debacle.
http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/editorials/public-money-is-not-to-save-private-ventures/366010.html
Pointing out to the operational troubles of Kingfisher the editorial notes, "Having cheated fliers by its unscheduled cancellation of flights and defrauded the government by deducting tax from its employees and not depositing it with authorities, the airlines has lost all ground for sympathetic consideration of its current plight."

And concludes with a simple summary of the perspective government should take, "It is not the job of a government to bail out private enterprises and their survival should be left to market forces. Since they do not share profits with the government there is no justification for wasting public money to enable them to cover their losses."