AI Express mulls leasing some Jet's Boeing 737s

MUMBAI: Air India Express, the international budget arm of Air India, is examining the possibility of

leasing some Boeing 737 aircraft of grounded carrier Jet Airways, which are parked at different airports due to non-payment, through a firm decision is yet to be taken, a top company official said Sunday. Air India Express parent, Air India, is already discussing a proposal to

lease five of Jet Airways wide-body planes, Boeing 777s.

"We are looking at leasing (B737 of

stake in Jet Airways. The details of initial bidders are expected to be known on May 10.

As they wait for completion of the bidding process, the lenders are also looking at options to raise funds from the carrier's available assets, including utilising Jet Airways' 16 own planes. Jet Airways) aircraft but there is no firm decision on this issue so far. As a matter-of-fact, there are a

lot of other things that have to be

looked at, like slots, sectors and timings, among others," Air India Express chief executive officer Shyam K Sunder said over phone from Kochi, the airline's headquarter. When asked about the number of planes that his airline could induct from Jet Airways, he said, "We don't have a target number."

On Friday, sources said that lenders have been proactive and cannot be blamed for the current situation at the airline. "They (lenders) have been actively engaging with the company for almost nine months ever since the airline started incurring cash losses and have been urging the management

to come forward with a definite plan for resolution."

"Unfortunately, the management and the promoter delayed in taking a decision leading to the present situation. The lenders continued to support the airline during this period," one of the sources had said.