SBI says banks are trying to help Kingfisher Airlines

SBI says banks are trying to help Kingfisher AirlinesState Bank of India Chairman Pratip Choudhuri, who is heading the consortium of bank lenders to Kingfisher Airlines has said that the banks are trying to help the airline to soft out its issues and are also open to extending the loans to the aviation firm.

He said that "everything is on the table" when asked if the banks are ready to provide extra loans to the cash strapped airline. Kingfisher Airlines has already grounded 15 aircraft after it was unable to pay for their maintenance and services, according to some repots.

The number of aircrafts being operated by the company has now reduced to 40 from 69 at the end of 2010. A report in the Economic Times said that 140 pilots have already expressed intention to leave the firm while 11 have left without receiving relieving letter from the company.

The consortium of banks has already agreed to a debt restructuring plan put forward by the company. However, a request for additional working capital is still pending with the banks.

Meanwhile, UB group chief, Vijay Mallya has sad that he is talks with a domestic investor for investing in the airlines.