Prabhu directs civil aviation secretary to review Jet Airways\' issues
Airline now owes more than Rs 3,500 crore to passengers on account of flight cancellations alone.
Mumbai: Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday directed civil aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola to review issues concerning Jet Airways, which has been operating with less than 10 planes.
"Directed Secretary MoCA to review issues related to Jet Airways. Asked him to take necessary steps to minimise passenger inconvenience and ensure their safety," Prabhu tweeted in the morning.
According to airline sources, Jet Airways will operate only nine planes -- two Boeing 737s and seven regional Jet ATRs -- on Friday.
"Jet is operating only nine planes on Friday," a source said.
Cash-strapped Jet Airways on Thursday grounded its services to and from the East and Northeast regions. It also suspended its international operations for a day. Consequently, many passengers were left stranded at the airports. Sources said the airline now owes more than Rs 3,500 crore to passengers on account of flight cancellations alone.
As of Thursday noon, the airline operated just 14 planes-- way down from 123 planes in operations at the peak. In another development, Jet Airways pilots union National Aviators Guild (NAG) in a communication to its around 1,100 members late Thursday night, said it will go ahead with the "no flying" call from April 15 if the pending salaries are not cleared by Sunday.