DGCA not to consider Jet for the summer schedule

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will draw up the summer schedule of flights without considering Jet Airways.

The beleaguered airline has grounded almost three-fourth of its fleet amid a financial crisis that has impacted its payments to lessors.

The DGCA expects to get greater clarity in the next few days on the number of slots at various airports that Jet Airways will not be able to utilise. The slots surrendered by Jet will be on a temporary basis; if it reaches a better financial position, it will be given the slots back.

Asked if Jet Airways was being grounded, officials said: “We are telling you what the picture is.”

Sources indicated that while the current Jet fleet stands at 35 aircraft, it could go down further as early as the end of the day as some more flights are expected to be grounded.

Honchos meet

Meanwhile, State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar, along with Aviation Secretary Pradip Singh Kharola and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Nripendra Misra, met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday afternoon.

Kumar told newspersons the meeting was to apprise the government, which is an important stakeholder, about the goings on in the airline, and not to discuss a bailout package.

Etihad Airways, which owns a 24 per cent stake in Jet, has not conclusively decided that it will exit the airline, pointed out Kumar.

He clarified that Etihad, however, was firm on certain conditions, such as that the airline should be run in a professional manner.

“Every effort is being made by the lenders to keep the airline running in the interest of the aviation sector and the country. It is in everybody’s interest that Jet Airways continues flying. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code in the case of the service industry is the last option,” he said.

“Our aim is that the corporate debtor (Jet Airways) should not be harmed. We are not concerned with whom the promoter is.” Jet’s promoter Naresh Goyal has been unwilling to give up the role.

The SBI Chairman clarified that the government has not given the bank any direction, and that the lender had taken its decisions on Jet in commercial interest.

“We have not reached that point where we can say enough is enough and nothing else can be done. The resolution plan is almost ready. You will see it very soon,” he added.

To induct aircraft

To address the crisis in the aviation market due to the grounding of Jet aircraft, domestic airlines will import or induct 20-25 aircraft between now and April-end, said Kharola.

“The aircraft will join either because airlines have ordered them... and these will be delivered... or some will lease them. Besides, the airlines will also try and utilise their aircraft more so that passengers are not inconvenienced,” the Civil Aviation Secretary said after a meeting with major domestic airlines.

The airlines have been asked to submit their schedule of induction and leasing to the Ministry in the next few days.

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