Jet Airways' lessors offer Spicejet its 50 grounded Boeing aircraft: Sources

Jet Airways lessors have offered 50 of its new generation Boeing 737 aircraft to budget carrier SpiceJet, sources told. People in SpiceJet on condition of anonymity had said that Jet has approached the airline. Lessors of Jet Airways have offered 50 of the airlines’ new generation Boeing 737 aircraft to budget carrier SpiceJet even on short-term leases of up to three years. 

Meanwhile, trouble does not seem to end for Jet Airways as India's aviation regulator said on Tuesday that Jet Airways is currently operating only 41 aircraft, just a third of its original fleet, as the debt-laden carrier struggles to finalise a rescue deal with lenders and its major shareholder Etihad Airways.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement the situation is fluid and that Jet may reduce the number of aircraft it is flying in coming weeks.

Saddled with debt of more than one billion dollars, Jet Airways has delayed payments to banks, suppliers, pilots and lessors - some of whom have ended lease deals with the airline before taking the planes out of the country. 

The DGCA also said that pilots, cabin crew and ground staff who have reported any kind of stress should not be put on duty, and the airline should carry out regular maintenance of its aircraft even if they are currently grounded. 

The operator was also directed to ensure that no Pilots/Cabin Crew/AMEs be rostered on duty who had reported stress of any nature. Additionally, all such staff should be current with all mandatory training requirements.