Airbubba
7th Jul 2005, 19:38
Jet gets to fly US, thanks to A-I
RUMI DUTTA HARDSAMALANI
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JULY 07, 2005 09:31:59 AM ]
MUMBAI: Jet Airways has discovered a smart way to circumvent the existing ban on flying to the US — and it has Air India to thank for it.
Jet, which is currently barred from flying to US due to an ongoing investigation by US aviation authorities, is negotiating a new wet lease agreement with the country’s national carrier.
Under this new agreement, Air India will deploy Jet’s aircraft and crew on the London-New York sector. This will be a win-win situation for both airlines.
While Jet gets to fly around the ban, Air-India will be able to deploy additional planes on this busy route and in the process earn much needed revenues.
As things stand, Jet will continue to fly daily from Mumbai to London, using its three Boeing aircraft. On reaching London, the same aircraft will proceed to New York.
Only this time it will represent Air-India. The prospect of a Jet Airways aircraft, replete with its airline logo and crew members landing in US could create a piquant situation for US aviation authorities, especially since the airline has been barred from flying to US on security grounds.
Sources in the know say that the move is meant to deliver a clear message to American authorities that if the country’s flagship carrier is ready to stand by Jet, there is no reason why US authorities should doubt its credentials.
Both airlines confirmed that negotiations were on for a temporary aircraft leasing agreement, but refused to divulge specific details.
Saroj Datta, executive director, Jet airways told TOI, ‘‘The modalities of the aircraft leasing deal with AI are currently being worked out. The idea is to optimally utilise our aircraft that were to operate on the US routes. It will be a temporary arrangement and we will operate on our own once we get the nod from US authorities.’’
Jet is awaiting clearance from US authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the US Department of Transport (DOT).
It has filed a legal suit in the US against the lesser-known American company by the same name which has no airline operations.
It had taken three long-haul aircraft on lease from South African Airways to service the Mumbai-London-US route. However, its US plans went into a tailspin after a Delaware-based company called Jet Airways Inc filed a complaint against it.
It said any permission to Jet Airways India would endanger US national security as the Indian carrier had ‘Al-Qaida’ links — an allegation the Indian company has strongly denied.
RUMI DUTTA HARDSAMALANI
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JULY 07, 2005 09:31:59 AM ]
MUMBAI: Jet Airways has discovered a smart way to circumvent the existing ban on flying to the US — and it has Air India to thank for it.
Jet, which is currently barred from flying to US due to an ongoing investigation by US aviation authorities, is negotiating a new wet lease agreement with the country’s national carrier.
Under this new agreement, Air India will deploy Jet’s aircraft and crew on the London-New York sector. This will be a win-win situation for both airlines.
While Jet gets to fly around the ban, Air-India will be able to deploy additional planes on this busy route and in the process earn much needed revenues.
As things stand, Jet will continue to fly daily from Mumbai to London, using its three Boeing aircraft. On reaching London, the same aircraft will proceed to New York.
Only this time it will represent Air-India. The prospect of a Jet Airways aircraft, replete with its airline logo and crew members landing in US could create a piquant situation for US aviation authorities, especially since the airline has been barred from flying to US on security grounds.
Sources in the know say that the move is meant to deliver a clear message to American authorities that if the country’s flagship carrier is ready to stand by Jet, there is no reason why US authorities should doubt its credentials.
Both airlines confirmed that negotiations were on for a temporary aircraft leasing agreement, but refused to divulge specific details.
Saroj Datta, executive director, Jet airways told TOI, ‘‘The modalities of the aircraft leasing deal with AI are currently being worked out. The idea is to optimally utilise our aircraft that were to operate on the US routes. It will be a temporary arrangement and we will operate on our own once we get the nod from US authorities.’’
Jet is awaiting clearance from US authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the US Department of Transport (DOT).
It has filed a legal suit in the US against the lesser-known American company by the same name which has no airline operations.
It had taken three long-haul aircraft on lease from South African Airways to service the Mumbai-London-US route. However, its US plans went into a tailspin after a Delaware-based company called Jet Airways Inc filed a complaint against it.
It said any permission to Jet Airways India would endanger US national security as the Indian carrier had ‘Al-Qaida’ links — an allegation the Indian company has strongly denied.