Jet Airways’ has landed in another trouble amid continual flight groundings as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) cut its fuel supply on Friday due to non-payment. “Due to non-payment of outstanding Bills of Payment, IOCL stopped fuel supply to Jet Airways across the nation. Yesterday also an hour’s services was stopped,” ANI cited IOCL spokesperson as saying.
The troubled airline is currently operating with just 26 aircraft, about a fifth of its original fleet, after the rest of the fleet was grounded for non-payment of dues. A consortium of lenders currently led by SBI is set to take a controlling stake in the airline. The management change led to the resignation of Jet Airways founder and CEO Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal from the airline board.
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Under debt resolution plan which was approved by the board on 25 March, Jet Airways will be infused with Rs 1,500 crore. Lenders will then take control of the airline. However, the revival plan has not yet materialized. Jet Airways has not received the funds yet and the recent meeting of the lenders did not reveal anything about the release of funds even though the airline is in the dire need of funding.
After the reorganization in the airline, Naresh Goyal’s stake will come down to 25% while Etihad’s will reduce to 12%.
Meanwhile, the airline’s promoter Naresh Goyal had recently said that he has agreed to every term and condition laid down by the lenders. The cash strapped airline has not been able to pay its employees and deferred the March salary payments. Jet Airways had cited “complexities” involved in the finalisation of the debt-recast plan.
“Given the complexities of such (finalisation of the resolution plan) processes, it has taken us longer than expected. However, we continue to strive and are in continuous deliberations with the lenders and institutions to find a solution,” Jet Airways chief people officer Rahul Taneja had earlier said in a communication to staff. The company has about 16,000 employees.
Jet Airways’ shares were trading at Rs 256.05, down 3.90 points, or 1.50% on BSE at the time of reporting.