Jet chief meets aviation secy, claims 'all is well'

MUMBAI: Under fire from regulators and employees for the financial woes engulfing the airline, Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal met aviation secretary RN Choubey on Monday in the capital and apprised him of the ongoing crisis.

Goyal, the London-based NRI, had last week told his shareholders that he's embarrassed and guilty of their losses, later left for London amidst the airlines' plans to raise funds to come out of the financial airpocket, sources said.

Following its abrupt move to indefinitely defer June quarter earnings announcement on August 9, the aviation ministry had said it was keeping a watch on the developments at the beleaguered airline.

"We will be watching the developments at Jet Airways," Choubey had said.

He was soon to say that the airline did not approach the ministry as it was not bound to do so. "But when airlines are in difficulty, they come to us," he had said.

When contacted the airline confirmed the meeting and also that he left on an overseas business trip.

"The chairman has met the aviation secretary on Monday to discuss the issues concerning the sector and the airline," an airline spokesperson told PTI.

On his foreign trip in the middle of a deepening financial and regulatory crisis, the spokesperson said, "he continues with his routine engagements including travels as part of his scheduled itinerary and business requirements."

The airline which has debt of over Rs 11,000 crore from banks, had said last evening that it was looking at all options to raise funds.