India's cash-strapped airline Jet Airways grounds 15 more planes

NEW DELHI -- India's beleaguered private airline Jet Airways has grounded 15 more planes for non-payment of dues to it lessors, and now it is left with less than 30 planes, the airline's sources confirmed to Xinhua on Wednesday.

Jet Airways, which has been struggling to continue its operations, has not paid salaries to a section of its staff, particularly pilots, engineers and general managers for the past three months.

The airline has also deferred interest and lease rental payments to its lessors due to the ongoing cash-crisis.

"An additional 15 aircraft have been grounded due to non-payment of outstanding to lessors under their respective lease agreements," said a statement issued by the airline.

It further said the airline is also making all efforts to minimize disruption to its network and is proactively informing and re-accommodating its affected guests while updating the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in this regard.

Not long ago, the embattled private airline had a fleet of 123 planes and was operating more than 650 flights across the country and a few continents.

Last month, the airline's pilots' body, the National Aviators Guild (NAG), had announced to observe strike and not operate flights with effect from April 1 if their pending salaries were not paid. However, two days ago the guild decided to defer its call to halt flight operations to April 15.