Home Ministry permits security clearance to Jet Airways

The Union Home Ministry has granted security clearance to Jet Airways which is planning to relaunch commercial flight operations in the next few months.

Recently, the airline conducted its test flight to and from the Hyderabad airport in a step towards obtaining the air operator certificate. The test flight was conducted to prove to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that the aircraft and its components are operating normally.

A letter sent by the civil aviation ministry to the airline informed it about the grant of the security clearance by the Union home ministry. The letter, which has been accessed by PTI, said, it is “directed to refer to your application… to convey security clearance for change in shareholding pattern of the company/firm, for scheduled operator permit, on the basis of security clearance received from the Ministry of Home Affairs”.

Jet Airways halted operations after two decades as it failed to get funds to run operations and left 20,000 workers jobless. It also had a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways. The airline initially started cancelling flights, cutting routes, grounding planes, and handing pink slips to employees due to the cash crunch.