New Delhi: A multi-pronged strategy has been rolled into action to minimise the pain caused by Jet Airways’ shutdown for both passengers and employees, without using taxpayers’ money to bail out the airline. The finance ministry has decided to waive the mandatory customs requirement that Jet’s grounded planes in India must first be sent to the country of registration of their lessors and then fly them back to India before they can be used by other carriers. This will speed up lease of Jet planes to other airlines.
Simultaneously, Air India and SpiceJet have started working on plans to induct Jet’s planes. While SpiceJet has initiated the process to take over 22 of Jet’s Boeing 737s, AI is looking at Jet’s five B777s, B737s for AI Express and may even consider the wide-bodied Airbus A330. In all, AI may take 10 to 12 of Jet’s planes and SpiceJet may take a few more in the coming weeks.
