If ailing national carrier Air India can be rescued by giving a bailout by the government, then there is no reason to deny a similar bailout package to the stranded Kingfisher Airlines, industry body Assohcam said.

D S Rawat, Secretary General of Assohcam, suggested a bailout package for Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines saying there is no difference in the financial woes of Air India and Kingfisher Airlines.

Showing Mallya a ray of hope, Rawat said in a statement, "If Air India deserves to be given a bailout package, there is no reason why Kingfisher should be treated differently by banks and government organizations."

Rawat's statement emerged as the November 30 deadline set by the bankers to the promoters of Kingfisher Airlines to invest fresh capital of around $1 billion in the carrier and present a concrete revival plan.

Meanwhile, Mallya met top aviation authorities, and cited open offer as a reason for delay in funds. He said that potential investors wanted their entire money to go into the carrier. But, investors are skeptical as picking up a stake beyond 25 per cent would mean obtaining the additional 24 per cent from existing shareholders, which wouldn't go to the carrier.

Kingfisher Airlines, which is currently burdened with a debt pile of more than Rs 15,000 crore, hasn't been operating since October 1 after its pilots and engineers went on strike due to non-payment of salaries.