Debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines on Tuesday reported that its net loss doubled to Rs 468.66 crore (Rs 4.68 billion) in the quarter ended September 30, 2011, as higher fuel prices depressed operating margins.The debt-ridden carrier had reported a net loss of Rs 230.81 crore (Rs 2.3 billion) in the same period last year, Kingfisher Airlines said in a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The company's income from operations, however, rose by 10.5 per cent to Rs 1,528.16 crore (Rs 15.28 billion) in the July-September quarter from Rs 1,382.72 crore (Rs 13.82 billion) in the year earlier period.
Meanwhile, shares of the company were trading at Rs 21.50 apiece, up 0.70 per cent from their previous close on the BSE at 0930
hours.
Bankers have made it clear that Kingfisher's promoters will have to infuse Rs 800 crore (Rs 8 billion) worth of fresh equity into the company if they are to consider a second restructuring of existing debt, even as opposition mounted to any bailout of the private carrier.
The bankers have asked the troubled airline to come out with a "credible" plan.
The lenders -- a 13-bank consortium led by SBI, who were yet to decide on ways to soften the troubled airline's Rs 7,057.08 crore (Rs 70.57 billion) debt burden -- are due to meet Kingfisher management on Tuesday.
Kingfisher had suffered a loss of Rs 1,027 crore (Rs 10.27 billion) in 2010-11 and is estimated to have debt of over Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billon).
The airline has cancelled several flights over the past few weeks.
