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The Vijay Mallya-led Kingfisher Airlines led the chart of the loss-making carriers by reporting a massive Rs 1,602 crore (Rs 16.02 billion) in losses in 2008-09, followed by Jet Airways with a loss of Rs 1,032 crore (Rs 10.32 billion).
However on the positive side, the low-cost operators -- IndiGo and Paramount Airways -- managed to register profit during the last fiscal, despite a negative growth of 4.66 per cent in the aviation sector in 2008.
The balance sheet of IndiGo was in the green with a profit of Rs 82.16 crore (Rs 821 million) while the Chennai-based Paramount had a profit of Rs 7.26 crore (Rs 72 million) , Patel said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Other budget airlines - SpiceJet and GoAir - suffered losses of Rs 352.50 crore (Rs 3.52 billion) and Rs 22.55 crore (Rs 225 million) respectively, he added.
Meanwhile, the cash-strapped the national carrier Air India also reported a loss of Rs 2,226 crore (RS 22.26 billion) during 2007-08, minister said, adding the airline also incurred a loss of Rs 65 crore (Rs 650 million) during the five-day stir by its senior pilots this September protesting against the management decision to slash flying-related allowances and productivity-linked incentives.
In 2008, 41.3 million passengers travelled by air compared to 43.3 million the previous year. However, between January and October this year, domestic passenger traffic grew by 3.32 per cent.