Jet 2.0 ready to fly: Jet Airways may resume by October, may get Air Operators Certificate in May
In the last days of September or October this year, Jet Airways aircraft will once again be ready to fly. The company’s new CEO Sanjeev Kapoor said that after the renewal of the Air Operator’s Certificate, the company is planning to start flying in the July-September quarter itself. The company expects to get the certificate in early May. He said flight tests could start in late May.
Final stage preparations
Sanjeev Kapoor told in an interview about the flight preparations that it is a very complicated, long and rigorous process and now we are in the final stage. We want to make sure everything is perfect. We expect to resume operations a few more months after the preparation of the Air Operator Permit (AOP). We plan to start operations by October or a little earlier. But it will take us a few more months to start flying anyway.
Why was Jet Airways closed?
Jet Airways was started in the early 1990s by ticketing agent-turned-entrepreneur Naresh Goyal. He gave an alternative to Air India by starting Jet Airways. At one time, Jet had a total of 120 planes. Operating with the tag line ‘The Joy of Flying’, the company used to operate 650 flights a day when it was at its peak.
However, when the company closed down, it had only 16 planes left with it. As of March 2019, the company’s loss was Rs 5,535.75 crore. The company closed on 17 April 2019 due to heavy debt.
Akasa Air may also start by May-June
Akash Air Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vinay Dubey had told a few days ago that the airline’s first commercial flight is expected to start in the month of June. It plans to build a fleet of 18 aircraft in the first 12 months of the commencement of operations and thereafter the airline will add 12-14 aircraft every year.
Travelers will get benefit from the entry of new players
Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder of online travel company EaseMyTrip.com said, “The demand in the aviation market will continue to grow and new players will bring more benefits and options to the travellers.” “The market will become more dynamic in terms of prices and offers. This will help in reaching the pre-pandemic level.
IndiGo market leader with 278 aircraft
The leader in the aviation market is IndiGo, with a fleet of about 278 aircraft. Its market share was around 50% as of October 2021. Now in the coming days, it can compete with Akasa and Jet Airways 2.0 as well as Air India.
