After Vistara, another Tata JV airline AirAsia India also plans to induct Jet Airways Boeing 737s
Saurabh Sinha | TNN | Apr 30, 2019, 10:43 IST
(Representative image)NEW DELHI: The Tata Group, pioneer of Indian aviation, are now aggressively looking at expanding their footprint in the skies here. AirAsia India, a JV of Tata and Malaysian AirAsia, is planning to induct some Boeing 737s that used to fly for Jet Airways and have now been repossessed by lessors.
AirAsia India Pvt Ltd’s (AAIPL) flying licence has listed Airbus fleet for its operations. Now the low cost carrier (LCC) has applied to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for operating Boeing aircraft, the ex-Jet B737s, also. The move comes as Tata-Singapore Airlines full service JV Vistara is also planning to induct ex-Jet B737s.
AAIPL currently has 20 Airbus A320s and is likely to add five more of these planes this summer. In addition to these, it is looking at ex-Jet B737s too. Suspension of operations by Jet has suddenly freed up slots at the choked Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore airports. And the government has linked temporary granting of these slots to other airlines’ adding capacity quickly to help rein in runaway fares. AAIPL and Vistara’s domestic market share in March, 2019, was 5.9% and 4.2%, respectively.
Air India and AI Express were also looking at ex-Jet B777s and B737s, respectively. But so far they have not taken these planes. Only SpiceJet has inducted some of Jet’s B737s and has started flying them. Vistara will get Boeing 787 Dreamliners from next January and operate wide body. Apart from AI, it is the only once which could look at taking Jet’s B777s which are now with State Bank of India.
AAIPL will complete five years this summer and be eligible to fly abroad and Vistara has already got the permission to do so. Jet had significant number of flights to the Gulf and Southeast Asia, and bilateral to both these places had been exhausted. If Jet does not revive in coming weeks and months, its international flying rights would also be distributed to other airlines.
On April 8, State Bank of India (SBI) had invited bids to sell stake in Jet Airways. Tuesday is the last day for government-promoted and quasi sovereign funds to directly bid for the airline. It remains to be seen if National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), an investor-owned fund manager anchored by the government of India, puts its bid on Tuesday. Incidentally, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is one of the investors in NIIF, which was set up for building infrastructure but is now bailing out the airline. A consortium of employees on Monday wrote to SBI, asking it to be considered as a valid EoI for the airline.
AirAsia India Pvt Ltd’s (AAIPL) flying licence has listed Airbus fleet for its operations. Now the low cost carrier (LCC) has applied to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for operating Boeing aircraft, the ex-Jet B737s, also. The move comes as Tata-Singapore Airlines full service JV Vistara is also planning to induct ex-Jet B737s.
AAIPL currently has 20 Airbus A320s and is likely to add five more of these planes this summer. In addition to these, it is looking at ex-Jet B737s too. Suspension of operations by Jet has suddenly freed up slots at the choked Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore airports. And the government has linked temporary granting of these slots to other airlines’ adding capacity quickly to help rein in runaway fares. AAIPL and Vistara’s domestic market share in March, 2019, was 5.9% and 4.2%, respectively.
Air India and AI Express were also looking at ex-Jet B777s and B737s, respectively. But so far they have not taken these planes. Only SpiceJet has inducted some of Jet’s B737s and has started flying them. Vistara will get Boeing 787 Dreamliners from next January and operate wide body. Apart from AI, it is the only once which could look at taking Jet’s B777s which are now with State Bank of India.
AAIPL will complete five years this summer and be eligible to fly abroad and Vistara has already got the permission to do so. Jet had significant number of flights to the Gulf and Southeast Asia, and bilateral to both these places had been exhausted. If Jet does not revive in coming weeks and months, its international flying rights would also be distributed to other airlines.
On April 8, State Bank of India (SBI) had invited bids to sell stake in Jet Airways. Tuesday is the last day for government-promoted and quasi sovereign funds to directly bid for the airline. It remains to be seen if National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), an investor-owned fund manager anchored by the government of India, puts its bid on Tuesday. Incidentally, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is one of the investors in NIIF, which was set up for building infrastructure but is now bailing out the airline. A consortium of employees on Monday wrote to SBI, asking it to be considered as a valid EoI for the airline.
Download The Times of India News App for Latest Business News.
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE