2007 may see Jet flying to the U.S

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 17 November 2006, 20:30 IST
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2007 may see Jet flying to US New Delhi: In a dream come true efforts, Jet Airways may finally get the permission to fly to the United States in mid 2007. According to industry sources, Jet is believed to be given the 'go ahead' to enter into the U.S. The Jet executives refused to comment on this officially. But the sources indicated that US officials may have briefed the senior company executives. The ministry of civil aviation had given Jet the approval to start flying to US, but the Transport Department in US did not take it further. It has declined to comment on the issue. Jet had to postpone its flight plans to the US in 2005 when a US-based company objected, citing security concerns. But after the recent visit by US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) administrator, Marion C Blakey, the Jet case was pushed forward. If the permission to operate long-haul flights to the US comes through, it would be just in time for the Indian carrier, which has chalked out plans for a rapid induction of expensive long-haul craft over the next few years. According to existing plans, Jet’s fleet will be 53-aircraft strong by March-end, which includes three A340 aircraft. Six more A340/330 long-haul planes will be included in ’06-07 and eight more by March ’08. In the fiscal year ’07-08, Jet Airways will also induct 10 Boeing 777-300 extended range aircraft. All these planes are capable of flying non-stop between India and the US. Jet Airways has already had the experience of keeping aircraft on the ground when it had inducted leased Airbus A340 aircraft from South African Airways. The aircraft was virtually on the ground for a few months and had to be leased to Air-India for interim operations. Jet now uses the planes on its India-London routes. The airline has also put in place a contingency plan for operations to other stations in Europe, in case the US permission does not come through, airline sources said.