JetLite defers delivery of aircraft by up to 3 yrs

Jet Airways' low-cost arm JetLite has deferred deliveries for nine aircraft by nearly three years as part of its capacity rationalisation plans.

The delivery of nine Boeing 737-800s were scheduled between 2010 and 2012. These would now come in between 2012 and 2015.

"Apropos the JetLite deliveries, we have nine Boeing 737 -800s on order. These are due to be delivered between January 2012 and July 2015. These aircraft were originally slated for delivery between July 2010 and September 2012," a Jet Airways spokesperson told PTI.

While the spokesperson did not specify the reason for delaying the deliveries, Jet Airways executive director Saroj Datta had in June said the deliveries were rescheduled "due to the downturn and need to cut down capacity".

Earlier, the company had planned deferring only four Boeing jets, against the latest nine planes.

The four aircraft deferred then were rescheduled for deliveries in 2011, 2012 and 2013 but the delivery of the other five planes were kept unchanged, Datta had said.

Excess capacity in the industry has forced all major airlines, including national carrier Air India and Vijay Mallya-led Kingfisher Airlines, to redraw thier aircraft acquistion programme.