Oneworld postpones strapped Kingfisher's entrance

Kingfisher Airlines A320. By Rob Finlayson

Troubled Kingfisher Airlines (IT) received more bad news Friday when oneworld put the Indian carrier's entrance into the alliance, which had been planned for Feb. 10, "on hold."

Oneworld said IT needs "time to strengthen its financial position" (ATW Daily News, Jan. 6). The carrier became a oneworld-member elect in 2010 (ATW Daily News, June 8, 2010).

Oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby said in a statement, "These are 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 increasingly clear recently that the airline needs more time to resolve the financial issues it is confronting before it can be welcomed into oneworld."

IT founder and chairman Vijay Mallya said, "In light of the many priorities centered around Kingfisher Airlines' recapitalization efforts, we felt it prudent to defer our entry into the alliance for a little while."