New Delhi, March 18 : Debt-ridden Jet Airways has cancelled 3 flights from Vadodara to Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai while 2 from Bhuj, sources told Zee Media. The debt laden Airline has canceled several flights in the last couple of days for its failure to pay rentals to various lessors.
As of today, the total number of aircraft grounded by Jet Airways stand at 41 so far. The airline has a fleet of 119 planes. Several passengers complained of apathy from Jet Airways, claiming that they were yet to get full refund on flight cancellation while several others took to twitter to vent out their passenger on the poor and unresponsive customer care service of the Airline, in the last few days. Some customers complained that they could not get through the Jet customer service even after trying for two days. While others said that they were being put on hold for close to an hour, only to be disconnected later. The Naresh Goyal-promoted carrier is looking at all possible options to raise funds for the debt crisis that is facing the Airlines. The liquidity crunch has not only forced the Airline to ground aircraft leading to cancellation of several flights, it has also caused delayed salary payments to its pilots, engineers and other senior staff.
On March 8, Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal wrote to Etihad Airways Group CEO Tony Douglas seeking urgent funding of Rs 750 crore under an MoU signed between various stakeholders. Meanwhile, Cash-strapped Jet Airways Monday said it has grounded four more planes, taking the number of aircraft that are non-operational due to non-payment of lease rentals to 41. Grappling with financial woes, the carrier has been looking at ways to raise fresh funds. “… An additional four aircraft have been grounded due to non-payment of amounts outstanding to lessors under their respective lease agreements,” the airline said in a filing to the stock exchanges.
According to the company, as mentioned earlier, it is actively engaged with all its aircraft lessors and are regularly providing them with updates on the efforts taken to improve the liquidity.
“Aircraft lessors have been supportive of the company’s efforts in this regard,” it said, adding that all efforts are being made to minimise disruption to its network.
Earlier this month, Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said that more than 50 of its aircraft were not operating.
As per its website, the airline has a fleet of 119 planes.
“The payment of interest due on March 19, 2019, to the debenture holder will be delayed owing to temporary liquidity constraints,” it said in a separate filing.
