ILFC Says Six Airbus A320s of Kingfisher ‘Held Hostage’

International Lease Finance Corp. is struggling to retrieve six Airbus SAS aircraft in India formerly operated by Kingfisher Airlines Ltd., saying it’s being “held hostage” by local government authorities.

The world’s second-biggest aircraft leasing company had sought to repossess the planes, saying the carrier was in default of contract conditions. While India’s civil aviation authority said it has deregistered four aircraft and will soon proceed with the other two, ILFC still can’t get them back because other government bodies have yet to cooperate, ILFC Chief Executive Officer Henri Courpron said today.