High fuel prices and devaluating rupee have robbed residents of the pleasure of flying with the “King of Good Times”. They would have to wait for at least a year before Kingfisher starts operating from Patna again.

The airline on Thursday announced that it would continue on its previously stated “holding plan” with a limited fleet for the next 12 months, during which it hopes to be back with full-scale operations.

It means that Kingfisher flights would operate only in its core inter-metro schedule or where it is the sole operator. The private airline is not operating any of its flight in Patna sector since March end. There are, however, skeletal employees present at Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport to assist guests, who come to the airline’s counter for enquiries.

A statement released on Thursday by Kingfisher Airlines Limited stated: “Kingfisher Airlines has decided to continue on its previously stated holding plan with a limited fleet and simultaneously progress on its aircraft reconfiguration plan to contain losses in this very tough operating environment for the Indian aviation industry. The company has a focused fleet re-induction plan and hopes to be back to full-scale operations in the next 12 months backed by a recapitalisation plan that the company is actively pursuing and confident of achieving.”

The airline has attributed high fuel prices and devaluating rupee as the reason behind its decision. It further stated: “The Indian aviation industry is at present confronted with an unprecedented, tough operating environment intensified by consistently high fuel prices and the depreciating Indian rupee. Fuel prices have increased by over 40 per cent over the past year compounded by the weakened rupee.”

Travel agents have stopped making any booking for the airlines because it has lost its membership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). “We are not making bookings for any of the Kingfisher flights operating anywhere in the country because the IATA has recently cancelled its membership. Any payment or cancellation for Kingfisher flights was done through IATA,” said Raman Jha manager of Super Travels, Patna.

He added that apart from all other cities, the suspension of Mumbai-bound Kingfisher flight has lead to a shortage of around 180 seats. “This led to a rise in the air fares in the Patna sector,” Jha said.