Pune: Jet Airways has cancelled its direct flight from Pune to Singapore till this month-end due to non-availability of aircraft in its fleet. The flight was launched in December 2018.
 
This is the first time after three months that the flight has been cancelled.

The Pune-Singapore Flight 9W departs from Pune at 5.10 hrs (IST) and arrives at 13.15 hrs (local time) in Singapore.

Jet Airways, which is India’s second largest airline, is burdened with a debt of around Rs 8,200 crore and has been scrambling to raise funds for operations and has been talking to investors for fund infusion.

Meanwhile, according to officials, out of the 119 aircraft in its fleet, only 67 are currently operational, as the rest have been grounded due to ‘non-payment of outstanding dues to respective lessors. 

However, the airline said that recently Jet Airways has proactively undertaken certain adjustments to its flight schedule keeping in mind the likely, yet interim, non-availability of some aircraft in its fleet in the foreseeable future. The list of these proactive cancellations has been available on the airline’s website for the past few weeks.

“The airline regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests. Jet Airways has already disclosed the number of aircraft on the ground as on date due to non-payment of outstanding to respective lessors. In line with its policy, the airline does not comment on specific relationships,” said a spokesperson of the airline.

“Jet Airways, its principal shareholders including Etihad Airways, and key financial stakeholders are working toward the finalisation and subsequent implementation of the Bank-led Provisional Resolution Plan (BLPRP) to ensure that the airline emerges financially strong and resilient. The approval of the BLPRP by the Board of Directors of Jet Airways on February 14 and of the enabling resolutions by the airline’s shareholders at the EGM last week were important steps in this direction. The company continues to be actively engaged with all its aircraft lessors, providing them regular updates on its efforts to improve liquidity. The aircraft lessors have been supportive of the company’s efforts in this regard,” said the spokesperson.