Jet Airways flights down to a trickle, PM’s office calls crisis meeting

The Prime Minister’s office held an urgent meeting to discuss a crisis at Jet Airways on Friday as the airline suspended all west-bound international flights until Monday and will fly six to seven over the weekend on domestic routes.

The carrier, saddled with more than $1.2 billion of debt, has had to ground more than 80 percent of its fleet over unpaid dues to leasing companies, pushing it to the brink of shutdown and jeopardising hopes of attracting a new investor.

Government officials have previously expressed concern about the loss of jobs at the airline and on the prospect of higher Indian air fares if Jet Airways collapses.