Jet India claims nod from Indian Govt

The Jet Airways (India), which for more than two months now is trying to get a foreign air carrier permit from the United States Department of Transportation to launch the Mumbai-Newark service claimed that it has received all necessary clearance from the Government of India.

In its latest communication to the US Department of Transportation, the Jet Airways (India) said one of the last permits from the Government of India was reissued on July 1, which includes Newark (US) and Brussels (Belgium) as approved area of operation.

“Thus, the Jet Airways holds all necessary authority from its homeland government to introduce Mumbai-Brussels-Newark service,” it said.

Referring to the revised permit issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Jet India said this includes airbus 340-300 aircraft that it intends to use for the Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flights and other long-haul services.

The Jet Airways (India), which had applied on May 2 to the DoT for a foreign air carrier permit under the Open Skies Agreement between the two countries in April, then pleaded before the Department to issue the permit “without delay”.

Its application for the permit has been mired in controversy, mainly because of objection from the US-based Jet Airways Inc alleging that the private airline from India had links with the global terrorist network including Al-Qaeda, a charge refuted by Jet India.

The allegations, has however, apparently resulted in delay in the processing of Jet India’s application because of the security concerns involved in it. The Jet Airways India, which had initially scheduled to launch its operation from June 23, has had to postpone it due to these reasons.

Its counsel in the US, George U Carneal, in his latest affidavit before the DoT said that the Jet Airways (India) remains eager to introduce its Mumbai-Brussels-Newark service as soon as possible, and will announce a new launch date for the service shortly after it has received all necessary US government approvals.

In its affidavit, the Jet Airways (India) also submitted the latest copy of audited financial report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005. This is accompanied by a profit and loss account balance sheet with Indian rupees restated as US dollars.

With this, the affidavit said its application for a foreign air carrier permit is “complete up-to-date, and ripe for the Department’s prompt review and approval.”

Meanwhile, the US Department of State is understood to be looking into various aspects of terrorist allegations levied against the Jet Airways (India) by an American company in the same name.

Even the US Embassy in New Delhi is believed to have written to the Civil Aviation Ministry in this regard seeking security related details of the Jet Airways (India).

The Department of State has already asked a number of such information in detail from the private Indian carrier, which has been provided by the Jet Airways (India).