Monday, June 6 2005 19:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Jet Airways flights to US are now likely to be delayed as necessary approvals are due from the Department of Transport (DoT).

"We had planned our inaugural flight for June 23 to Newark but this now may have to be postponed as necessary permission may not come in time from DoT and other agencies and not because of our legal row with Jet Airways Inc", Jet Airways executive director Saroj Datta told newspersons in Mumbai today (Jun 6, 2005).

Denying all allegations of the US company that the Indian carrier has Al Qaeda connections and that it was financed by the underworld, Datta said the carrier was in consultation with its legal experts to take appropriate action against the shell company which has no business activity much less airline business.

Asked if Jet Airways would consider an out of court settlement with Jet Inc, Datta said, "It does not arise".

Datta said there was a delay in receiving the operating permit from the Indian authorities (Director General of Civil Aviation), which needed to be endorsed on the operators' permit.

These documents have now been sent to the US authorities, including DoT, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transport Securities Agency, for necessary approvals to start daily flights to Newark.

Asked if DoT has raised any objection, Datta said, "DoT had not raised any queries with us after Jet Airways Inc had filed its objections".

He said the trade office in US was also hearing the matter on the trademark issue, filed by the US entity, and a decision was expected soon.