Jet Airways to induct a plane every month

By Anirban Chowdhury

MUMBAI: Jet Airways, India's second-biggest carrier by market share, will over the next 3-4 years induct one plane into its fleet every month, as it aims to bolster its network post a stake sale to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

The airline will take the delivery of 12 Boeing 737 narrow-bodied planes this year, KG Vishwanath, its vice-president for commercial strategy and investor relations, told analysts in a conference call on Monday. The total order is for 46 planes, he added.

Vishwanath also said Jet will conduct a 10-year study of routes and network before it takes a decision to order new planes. He didn't elaborate.

Adding to its fleet is crucial to Jet as it aims to regain market share lost in the last few years to its rival, budget carrier IndiGo. Strengthening its fleet is also important as the airline aims to draw benefits out of a combined global network with Etihad. Jet has over the last few months been pulling out loss-making flights from its domestic network and redeploying them on short haul international routes, said Vishwanath.