Other airlines told to fill Jet flight slots fast

NEW DELHI: The aviation ministry on Thursday said they have asked airlines to advance their flight induction plans to fill in the space created by the grounding of Jet Airways.

“Airlines have assured us that they are trying to expedite induction of planes, which will help reduce inconvenience to passengers in domestic sector,” aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said. He said the grounding of Jet Airways has made available 280 slots at the Mumbai airport and over 160 slots at the Delhi airport.

Kharola added the grounding of Jet has seen 75 planes withdrawn from the domestic market since October. But airlines have added 58 planes into the system during that period. “So, the net deficit is of 15-17 planes in the (domestic sector),” he said. He said the government will try and improve the international network too after the local network stabilises.