Struggling Kingfisher Airlines’ hopes of making a phased restart were dashed further after India’s government decided to withdraw the carrier’s international route authority and domestic slots and allot them to other Indian carriers. “These traffic rights have been withdrawn with immediate effect on account of non-utilization by the airline,” says an official at India’s Civil Aviation Ministry.
NEW DELHI — The Indian army has decided to buy 20 Cheetal helicopters and associated equipment from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to fill a serious need for the multirole aircraft. “We have signed a contract worth [$77 million] with the defense ministry to supply 20 Cheetals to the army over the next four years, besides providing training to its pilots and technical crew,” a HAL spokesman said.
