JetLite, the value airline from the Jet Airways stable, is eagerly awaiting the Government’s nod to fly Gulf. Amidst preparations for connecting to the new region, JetLite’s acting CEO Garry Kingshott told Deccan Herald on Friday that his airline has plans to link several cities in the Gulf.

These include: Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Sharjah, Doha and Bahrain. “I hope the Government gives us the right to fly to these destinations. We are not expecting roadblocks,” the acting CEO noted.

Four new flights

JetLite, which has 24 planes in its fleet will need four new aircraft to fly to this sector.

According to him, JetLite may get first of the new generation B737-700/800s. The airline hopes to launch its services to Gulf in February, 2008. On JetLite turning cash-positive by November, Kingshott said the improved performance of the planes in several areas, reduction in staff strength, better use of the assets etc were responsible for the turn-around of the ailing airline.

In addition to the fleet management, efficiency in scheduling network has helped. “We get 14 flights a day out of the same aircraft which mean 40 per cent more seats for a single plane.

Our on-time performance is between 56-85 per cent and load factor of 69 per cent which is slightly better than the industry average.

Our Kathmandu and Colombo are on but Male has been cancelled. We have temporarily suspended Delhi-Singapore flight,” Kingshott said.