Kingfisher Airlines: Can it be saved by leasing out aircraft?

With woes continuing to land on its already full plate, can Kingfisher Airlines, Vijay Mallya's cash-strapped carrier, save itself by leasing out aircraft?

SPECIAL: Kingfisher and what ails India's aviation sector

The company had recently announced that it was returning two of its Airbus jets to Irish leasing company AerCap. But, according to data with aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation, almost all the aircraft used by Indian carriers belong to leasing companies. Air India being the sole exception.

EXCLUSIVE: Two airlines working to ensure Kingfisher collapse, says Mallya

In its continuing spate of bad luck, Kingfisher Airlines' 10 bank accounts were frozen by the Mumbai Service Tax department on Thursday over non-payment of dues worth Rs 70 crore. As if this was not enough, reports said that Kingfisher pilots were airing their grievances on the plane's public address system.

But can Mallya's airline pull itself together by returning leased aircraft? Business Today's Kushan Mitra takes a behind-the-scenes look on how aircraft leasing deals work. And why in the world of aircraft financing, one airline succeeds and the other fails. Read Kushan's story here.