Dubai: Etihad Airways is in discussion with banks and various stakeholders of the debt-ridden Jet Airways to find a solution, the UAE national airline said on Wednesday amid reports about the possible sale of its entire stake in the Indian carrier.
Responding to Khaleej Times' query on its widely reported talks with State Bank of India on selling the entire 24 per cent stakes in Jet Airways, an Etihad spokesperson stated: "As a minority shareholder, Etihad is working closely with Indian lenders, the company and key stakeholders to facilitate a solution for Jet Airways."
According to reports in Indian media, Etihad has formally asked SBI, India's largest lender, to purchase its stake in Jet at Rs150 per share, or for a total consideration of Rs4 billion, as the embattled airline continued to ward off multiple crises including an impending strike by pilots over delayed salary and a looming bankruptcy.
Rajnish Kumar, SBI chairman, said on Wednesday that lenders are making every effort to keep afloat Jet Airways, and putting the airline into bankruptcy is the last option for all stakeholders.
"We believe that it is in everybody's interest that Jet Airways continues to fly," Kumar said, adding that placing Jet into bankruptcy would mean grounding the airline.
The SBI chief said talks with Etihad, Jet's largest shareholder, to secure a rescue deal are in progress while there is the possibility of bringing in a new investor. He said that any decision taken to rescue Jet is a commercial one and is not at the direction of the Indian government.
The Indian government, keen to avert a King Fisher like disaster ahead of next month's Lok Sabah polls, has asked state-run banks and other lenders to come to the rescue of India's second full service airline.
21/03/19 Issac John/Khaleej Times
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Responding to Khaleej Times' query on its widely reported talks with State Bank of India on selling the entire 24 per cent stakes in Jet Airways, an Etihad spokesperson stated: "As a minority shareholder, Etihad is working closely with Indian lenders, the company and key stakeholders to facilitate a solution for Jet Airways."
According to reports in Indian media, Etihad has formally asked SBI, India's largest lender, to purchase its stake in Jet at Rs150 per share, or for a total consideration of Rs4 billion, as the embattled airline continued to ward off multiple crises including an impending strike by pilots over delayed salary and a looming bankruptcy.
Rajnish Kumar, SBI chairman, said on Wednesday that lenders are making every effort to keep afloat Jet Airways, and putting the airline into bankruptcy is the last option for all stakeholders.
"We believe that it is in everybody's interest that Jet Airways continues to fly," Kumar said, adding that placing Jet into bankruptcy would mean grounding the airline.
The SBI chief said talks with Etihad, Jet's largest shareholder, to secure a rescue deal are in progress while there is the possibility of bringing in a new investor. He said that any decision taken to rescue Jet is a commercial one and is not at the direction of the Indian government.
The Indian government, keen to avert a King Fisher like disaster ahead of next month's Lok Sabah polls, has asked state-run banks and other lenders to come to the rescue of India's second full service airline.
21/03/19 Issac John/Khaleej Times
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