Jet Airways has taken a step closer towards relaunching operations by reportedly signing a lease agreement for an A320 airplane. The airline's plans to restart the business have been hit with delays for several reasons, but the latest report of a lease agreement suggests that things are moving forward for the airline, albeit a little slower than expected.
Lease agreement
Images of an A320 in Jet Airways' livery are being actively circulated on social media these days. And now, a new piece of information has emerged about the aircraft.
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According to a report by Business Line, Jet has entered into a lease agreement with Dublin-based lessor Avolon to lease A320 aircraft. The plane in question was earlier meant for Russian carrier S7 Airlines, but the conflict in Ukraine meant that it was up for grabs by other potential customers.
As per Planespotters.net, the aircraft was ferried a few days back from Toulouse to Maastricht in the Netherlands for a fresh coat of paint.
As of now, there has been no official statement by Jet Airways regarding the matter.
Potential fleet
There are plenty of unanswered questions about Jet Airways' second stint. From the launch date to the type of fleet it will operate, it's all supposedly still being planned as the airline continues to iron out various issues.
It all began with both Boeing and Airbus being in contention for a potential order for its narrowbody operations. Then came the Bloomberg report, which said that Jet was very close to finalizing the deal for 50 Airbus A220 aircraft.
It is also believed that before it settles down with a concrete fleet structure, Jet will start with a mixed fleet of narrowbodies (around 6 to 8 planes) before the end of this year. It had even posted a job advert inviting applications for trained pilots on Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family of airplanes.
Delayed plans
The report of Jet signing a lease agreement comes amid reports of several delays due to its previous liabilities to lenders who are reluctant to allow it to take on any fresh liabilities such as an aircraft order.
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The airline still owes money to several lenders and even devised a plan last year to start clearing the payments. In July, the group of lenders led by one of India's leading banks even threatened the carrier with insolvency if it did not pay them the proceeds from rentals of its aircraft.
Earlier this month, it was also reported that the airline is still negotiating terms and contracts with aircraft and engine makers, further adding to the delays.
While it was widely assumed that Jet would Launch operations in September, it seems like we'd have to wait a little longer to see it take to the skies again.
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Source: The Hindu Business Line