Etihad Airways
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.

Jet Airways Suspends All Operations Indefinitely

Despite celebrating almost 26 years of commercial aviation service, Jet Airways has suspended all of its flights indefinitely in what is being called a “temporary” move, according to the information which has been posted to its official Internet web site.

Jet Airways Suspends All Operations Indefinitely

Based in Mumbai, Jet Airways was once the largest airline in India. It had a fleet of 115 airplanes which served 52 destinations worldwide and had codeshare arrangements and frequent flier partnerships with 21 airlines — including Delta Air Lines, which has issued this travel advisory

…but the airline was denied its request for critical interim funding by the State Bank of India. Since November of 2018, Jet Airways faced significant financial issues — including the inability to pay its main supplier of fuel and many of its greater than 23,000 employees — and despite numerous attempts in recent months to secure additional funding in order to continue operations and flights of the troubled carrier, none have been successful.

Its operations had dwindled to fewer than ten airplanes as of last week.

Naresh Goyal — who is the former chairman of Jet Airways — released the following message via Twitter:

“A decision like this is never easy to make, but without the interim funding, which we have been repeatedly requesting for, we are simply unable to conduct flight operations in a manner that delivers to the very reasonable expectations of our guests, employees, partners and service providers”, Vinay Dube — who is the current chief executive officer of Jet Airways — said in an official statement in this press release, which is repeated in its entirety after the conclusion of this article below. “But, tomorrow is another day and tomorrow provides us with new hope, new opportunity and new expectations.”

What to Do If You Are Affected as a Passenger

Unlike other airlines which simply left its passengers suddenly scrambling for alternative travel plans after they ceased operations — such as what happened with WOW Air on Thursday, March 28, 2019 — Jet Airways is assuring passengers that its customer support teams are working around the clock to ensure that they are either “re-accommodated on to alternate flights or provided with a full refund.

Customers have generally taken note with mixed feelings of sadness with a positive attitude for the most part, as evidenced by the comments of the latest message from the airline posted via Twitter.

“Due to operational reasons, our flight schedule has been impacted”, according to this official statement. “We realise that this has affected our guests travel plans and truly regret the inconvenience.”

Its Contact Centre, Guest Relations and Social Media teams have been receiving high volumes of queries which may lead to extended wait/response times for some guests. For assistance with refunds due to flight cancellations kindly fill this form and “our team will be happy to assist at the earliest.”

Once your refund request is processed, please allow for up to ten working days for the credit to reflect in your account.

The process to follow in order to cancel a ticket and receive a refund is as follows:

  • Please fill the form below if you have booked directly on the official Internet web site of Jet Airways; the official mobile software application program; through the contact centre of Jet Airways; or any of its ticketing offices
  • If you booked your tickets with a travel agent or travel portal, you can connect with them directly regarding your refund
  • Visit its airport or city Ticketing Office

Summary

The team at Jet Airways seems to be doing everything possible to accommodate its customers — but if you are affected by the shutdown of operations and time is of the essence, you may want to try contacting an airline with which you prefer to fly as a passenger to see if you can get a special fare. While the chances are unlikely that your request will be granted, it never hurts to at least try.

Vistara is one of the competitors of Jet Airways in India and is offering a discount of ten percent to friends and family, which might help.

Also, contact your travel agent, the company which issued your credit card, or provider of your travel insurance for assistance with refunds or rebooking your flights.

One option which I would not consider is legal action against the now-defunct airline, as that course of action would likely be little more than an aggravating waste of time and money.

Although I was not officially a customer of Jet Airways, I have flown as a passenger aboard one of its airplanes, which was operated by Etihad Airways — Etihad Airways had invested a stake of 25 percent in Jet Airways — and I imparted my experience in this article.

The official statements are replicated — each in its entirety — below after the conclusion of this article. They include the official statement from the chief executive officer of Jet Airways; while the other is an official press release which was issued by the airline.

In the meantime, my thoughts are with the employees as well as the passengers who are affected — and if you are one of them, I hope that your specific issue is resolved in your favor as soon as possible.

Airlines rarely emerge from financial crises such as this one; but I also hope that the airline recovers as quickly as possible and is stronger than ever in the dawn of a new era— back to serve its loyal customers once again.

Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.


Jet Airways Announces Temporary Suspension of Flight Operations

All domestic and international flights to be cancelled effective today

Mumbai, April 17, 2019:

Late last night, Jet Airways was informed by the State Bank of India (SBI), on be-half of the consortium of Indian Lenders, that they are unable to consider its re-quest for critical interim funding.

Since no emergency funding from the lenders or any other source is forthcoming, the airline will not be able to pay for fuel or other critical services to keep the opera-tions going. Consequently, with immediate effect, Jet Airways is compelled to can-cel all its international and domestic flights. The last flight will operate today.

This decision has been taken after a painstaking evaluation of all alternatives that were made available to the Company and after receiving guidance and advice on the same from its Board of Directors. Jet Airways has informed the DGCA, and the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Finance and other relevant government institutions, of this course of action.

Over the last several weeks and months, the company has tried every means possi-ble to seek both interim and long-term funding. Unfortunately, despite its very best efforts, the airline has been left with no other choice today but to go ahead with a temporary suspension of flight operations.

This has been a very difficult decision but without interim funding, the airline is simply unable to conduct flight operations in a manner that delivers to the very rea-sonable expectations of its guests, employees, partners and service providers.

After 25 years of sharing the Joy of Flying with Indian and international guests, Jet Airways has been forced to take this extreme measure as prolonged and sustained efforts with lenders and authorities did not yield the desired results.

Essential services needed to support guest services and the re-commencement of the flight operations will be kept onboard until further notice.

Jet Airways will now await the bid finalisation process by SBI and the consortium of Indian Lenders.

In its response to the airline, the lenders have said, “The Expressions of Interest (EOI) have been received and bid documents have been issued to the eligible recip-ients today. The bid documents inter alia has solicited plans for a quick revival of the company. The bid process will conclude on 10th May 2019 … We are actively working to try and ensure that the bid process leads to a viable solution for the company.”

Jet Airways will continue to support the bid process initiated by the lenders.

The airline will inform all guests about the temporary suspension of flight operations via text message or email to the contact details listed in their bookings.

Jet Airways sincerely and profusely apologises for the disruption to the travel plans of all its guests. The airline would like to thank them for their continued patronage, support and loyalty over the years.

Jet Airways is hopeful that it will be able to bring the Joy of Flying back to its guests as soon as possible. Over the past 25 years, Jet Airways has established itself as India’s airline of choice and the flag-bearer of warm Indian hospitality around the world. The airline has proudly fuelled India’s economic engine, enabling business travellers and tourists alike to traverse the length and breadth of India and the world. Even during the toughest of times, Jet Airways employees have worn a smile on their face and put their duty to its guests and the nation first.

Above all, the airline would like to express its sincere gratitude to all its employees and stakeholders that have stood by the Company in these trying times. We hope to bring the flying sun back into the skies.


Message From the Chief Executive Officer

It is with deep sadness and with a heavy heart that we would like to share with you that, effective immediately, Jet Airways will be suspending all its domestic and international operations.

Late last night we were informed by SBI, on behalf of the consortium of Indian lenders, that they are unable to consider our request for interim funding. Since no emergency funding from the lenders or any other source of funding was forthcoming, it would therefore not have been possible for us to pay for fuel or other critical services to keep the operations going.

Consequently, with immediate effect we are compelled to cancel all our domestic and international flights. This decision has been taken after painstaking evaluation of all alternatives and after receiving guidance and advice on the same from the Board of Directors of Jet Airways.

Over the last several weeks and months we have tried every means possible to seek funding, both interim as well as long term funding, to keep our operations going. Unfortunately, despite the very best of our efforts, we have been left with no other choice today.

A decision like this is never easy to make, but without the interim funding, which we have been repeatedly requesting for, we are simply unable to conduct flight operations in a manner that delivers to the very reasonable expectations of our guests, employees, partners and service providers.

After 25 years of sharing the Joy of Flying with Indian and International guests, Jet Airways and its Board of Directors have been forced to take this extreme measure, as prolonged and sustained efforts with lenders and authorities to ensure the sustainability of the airline did not yield the desired results.

But, tomorrow is another day and tomorrow provides us with new hope, new opportunity and new expectations. We know that India is better off with a flying Jet Airways, and so do our potential investors. With a smile on our face and pride in our hearts, we have become the flag-bearer of warm Indian hospitality the world over. We have fueled India’s economic engine enabling business travelers and tourists alike to traverse the world. Families and businesses have grown with Jet Airways and have come to love our people as much as our brand. Even in the toughest of times, we remain committed to putting you first and being committed to our Guest First philosophy.

We will now await the bid finalisation process by SBI and the consortium of Indian Lenders and will continue to support the bid process initiated by the lenders.

For assistance, essential services needed to support our guests and the re-commencement of the flight operations will be kept onboard until further notice.

Guests who are booked on our flights with travel on future dates will be informed via text message email or phone call to the contact details listed in the booking. Guests who are impacted by the temporary suspension of flight operations can click here to request for a refund for their confirmed bookings. In case you have booked through a travel agent, please reach out to your travel agent to process the refund.

We sincerely and profusely apologise for the disruption to your travel plans. We would like to thank you for your continued patronage, support and loyalty over the years.

We are hopeful that we will be able to bring the Joy of Flying back to you soon.

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