Delhi High Court To Hear Application On Relief To Jet Passengers With Tickets On May 1

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that it would hear an application seeking relief to Jet Airways' passengers who bought tickets in advance on May 1, reported news agency ANI (Asian News International). The court observed that the petition was filed for publicity. It asked the petitioner as to why the contents of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) were published in newspapers before the matter came up for hearing. The application was filed on Monday by consumer rights activist Bejon K Misra, whose earlier plea seeking capping of airfares charged by various airlines in the country is still pending before the court. (Also read: Jet Airways Slots To Be Allocated To Other Airlines On Temporary Basis)

In his application, Mr Misra claimed that passengers had been severely affected owing to the sudden suspension of Jet Airways services and sought directions to the government to allow them a full refund on their tickets with a reasonable compensation, or to arrange for alternative travel for them to reach their destinations. He said that in the absence of any effective aviation sector regulator, a major crisis was looming over the country.

Meanwhile, Jet Airways is expected to make another plea for an interim funding of at least Rs 250 crore to its lenders to restart bare minimum operations till May 10, according to news agency IANS.

The lenders, who had called for binding bids from potential investors by May 10, have been unwilling to extend any further fund infusion into the airline.

Last week, the airline put forth a plan for interim funding to the consortium of lenders. But the plan was rejected. Consequently, the cash-strapped carrier announced the indefinite suspension all its flight operations, leaving many passengers stranded. With a debt of more than Rs 8,000 crore, the airline owes money to lessors, suppliers, pilots and oil companies. 

(With inputs from agencies)