Jet’s US plan: rival creates air pocket, Newark gives all-clear

It specifically endorsed Jet Airways’ selection of Newark Liberty International Airport as the carrier’s first trans-Atlantic destination. Jet Airways has proposed its first service between Newark and Mumbai via Brussels.

The US firm’s complaint came on May 23, the last day of the mandatory-21 day period left open by the US Department of Transport for parties to raise objections. Its petition, while raising ‘‘security concerns,’’ is largely focused on “trade name issues”.

This took Jet India, which filed its applications on May 2, by surprise. As it turned out, Jet Airways Inc. did not even have an aircraft in its possession even though it has registered itself as an airline.

In a detailed reply to the US Department of Transport on May 27, Jet Airways’ Washington-based counsel George U Carneal from law firm Hogan and Hartson termed the allegations “unsupported and offensive” while calling the allegations of links with Al Qaeda as “groundless” and “outlandish”.

The reply pointed out that the primary objections were related to the dispute over the same trade name, but this issue was “outside the purview” of the US Department of Transport. The indication is that the rest of the allegations have been made to stall the entry of Jet India and create hurdles right from the start.

While the complaint has apparently been sent to US Homeland Security for comments, sources said, Jet Airways (India) has engaged a team of lawyers to get over this crisis. The support from the Port Authority from New York and New Jersey has come as a shot in the arm as it is a strong statement on the airline’s credibility.