Airbus cancels Kingfisher's orders

[NEW DELHI] Airbus SAS cancelled Kingfisher Airlines Ltd's order for superjumbos, reducing chances for resumption of services by the grounded Indian carrier.

The orders for five A380s and another five A350-800 planes were scrapped by Airbus, John Leahy, chief operating officer of the Toulouse, France-based planemaker, said on Sunday in an interview. Prakash Mirpuri, a spokesman at the carrier, said that Kingfisher is trying to restart operations and the orders were cancelled as it has no plans for long-haul services.

The cancellations add to the woes of Kingfisher chairman Vijay Mallya after an Indian court last month voided Diageo plc's acquisition of a stake in the liquor tycoon's United Spirits Ltd. Kingfisher, which lost its airline licence last year, said that it does not have any source of revenue and is in talks with an investor for funds.