Jet Airways has given an update on how much ground it has covered towards restarting operations. The carrier's second stint is expected to begin this year after a new set of promoters – the Jalan-Kalrock Consortium – infused cash into the bankrupt airline. Officials at Jet are busy getting all the necessary clearances and are confident of starting scheduled flights soon.

Progressing well

The Jalan-Kalrock Consortium released an official statement on March 17th saying that the restarting activities of Jet Airways are "progressing well." The team at Jet is said to be working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Government of India, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to get all the necessary approvals, including the re-validation of the all-important Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

The carrier is preparing for the proving flight, which is required to get the AOC. Getting the clearances from concerned authorities can be quite time consuming, and Jet's statement tries to explain the complexity of the process, adding,

“Restarting an airline is a complex exercise that must be done meticulously, in coordination with the Regulatory Authorities and we are well underway with this process. The timeline reflects the typical duration of an AOC process however we fully expect to have the proving flight and AOC well in advance of the filed timelines.”

The airline is working on a deadline of March 22nd to revalidate the AOC. It marks the completion of 270 days from June 22nd, 2021, when it received the approval of the National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT) for its resolution process.

Jet Airways Boeing 737s
The carrier is working towards getting its AOC revalidated. Photo: Getty Images

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Extension

According to a report by the Business Standard, sources familiar with the matter have revealed that the process has taken time because of delays related to the leasing of aircraft. The initial plan was to lease the planes through GIFT City, Gujarat, but that was costing them more than doing it offshore.

The airline, however, has clarified that the timeline extension has nothing to do with where the aircraft is registered, adding,

“Further, there is no regulatory requirement of taking an aircraft outside India for the purpose of re-registration. We are working with multiple aircraft lessors as well as aircraft manufacturers to source aircraft that will be inducted into the Jet Airways fleet over the next three to five years.”

Boeing 737 MAX, India, Recertification
Jet was previously a Boeing-heavy airline, and had orders in for more than 100 737 MAX. Photo: Getty Images

Timeline

The process of reviving Jet Airways has been going on for a while now. The airline went bust in April 2019 in a rather dramatic way. As attempts to bring the downed carrier back to life gained steam, Jet Airways' Committee of Creditors, led by the State Bank of India, declared the Jalan-Kalrock consortium the airline's new owners in October 2020.

In June 2021, the NCLT gave the nod to Jet's revival plan, and since then, its promoters have been working to put the broken pieces together to resurrect the airline. Jet's management team has been holding meetings with key airports to discuss slot allotments and deliberating on matters such as where its new headquarters will be.

From planning fleet development and seeking debt settlement ahead of the launch to opening job applications and hiring a new CEO, much has happened in the last few months alone. While the process to restart the airline was never going to be easy, many former Jet fans are hoping to see it brought back to life soon.

What are your predictions about Jet Airways' revival timeline? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.