Click to play videoNew Delhi: Jet Airways is enroute to being India's first private Indian Airline to fly to the US.
The plan had been stalled in June 2005, following allegations by US namesake Jet Airways Inc, that the Indian carrier had links with the al-Qaeda and the underworld.
It was then that the US Transport Department put the onus of investigating the allegations and verifying the credentials of the airline on Indian authorities.
The verification came when Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel put it on record in Parliament that Jet Airways has been security cleared and has no underworld connection.
After getting the go-ahead from the Indian Government, the Department subsequently gave a clearance to Jet Airways.
Now, the airline only needs operational clearance from the American Federal aviation authority which is expected in a few months.
If the clearances come through, Jet will be the first private Indian airline to fly to the US.
The airline has already placed orders for the long range Boeing 777 aircraft to operate on the sector, first of which is expected by early next year.
Sources indicated that the routes being considered by the airline include Mumbai-Brussels-New York, Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco, and Mumbai-Shanghai-Los Angeles.
Being India's largest private airline is not easy. With cut throat competition on the domestic front eating into profitability, flying to lucrative, high volume international destinations is seen a way to keep the moolah flying in.
Jet is already operating flights to the UK and Singapore and consumers can expect some competitive fares.
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