Port Authority of New York, New Jersey pitches for Jet Airways
Lalit K Jha (HindustanTimes.com)
Minneapolis, June 1, 2005
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday urged the Department of Transportation to issue foreign carrier permit to the Jet Airways (India) 'without any delay' so that it could launch its planned Mumbai-Brussels-Newark from June 23.
Such a request before the Department of Transportation is seen in the aviation circles as a "surprise development" that too in the context of a little known American airlines levying serious charges against Jet Airways (India) and alleging that it had 'links' with Al-Qaeda network.
Interestingly, the petition in support of the Jet Airways (India) from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been submitted nearly ten days after the expiry of the last day (May 23) of filing any such support or objection.
"The Port Authority enthusiastically supports the applications of Jet Airways India for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authorising it to introduce new air transportation services under the US-India open skies agreement," said Bradley Rubinstein, manager, Industry and Regulatory Relations, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Requesting the Department of Transportation to accept its petition beyond the normal due date, the Port Authority observed: "Acceptance of this answer would provide Department with a more complete record on which to base its decision with respect to the Jet Airways (India) applications. Moreover, because this answer is supportive of the applications and does not raise any new controversial issues, acceptance of this answer will not prejudice any party."
According to the petition, made available to the HindustanTimes.com, the Port Authority said that it was convinced that" Jet Airways will provide convenient and reliable services that will attract and benefit business and leisure travellers and shippers seeking service to and from India.
It said: "Jet Airways will provide additional competition and offer new service options to the travellers and shippers in the New York/New Jersey region. In addition, we anticipate passengers and cargo will transfer at Newark Liberty International Airport to and from the new Jet Airways flight."
Wholeheartedly supporting the applications filed by the Jet Airways on May 2, the Port Authority 'urged" the Department to "grant these applications without delay" so that Jet Airways is able to introduce its proposed service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Mumbai via Brussels, as planned from June 23.
Applauding the Transportation Secretary, Norman Mineta, and his negotiating team for achieving open skies with India earlier this year, the Port Authority said: "The ensuing applications of Jet Airways for authority to the US clearly demonstrate that open skies agreements help stimulate new passenger and cargo services which, in turn, benefit the economies, businesses, and citizens of both countries involved in the agreement."
Welcoming and endorsing the Jet Airways' selection of the Newark Liberty International Airport as carrier's first transatlantic destination, the Port Authority said the Jet Airways' proposed service will help foster economic, social and cultural ties between the US and India, and benefit consumers and businesses in the New York/Newark region.
It said, the benefit to be given to the Jet Airways (India) are "demonstrably reciprocal in nature", given that two US carriers also announced new service between New York and India in the wake of the US-India agreement.
While, Delta Air Lines has started a new service between John F Kennedy International Airport and Chennai, Continental Airlines plans a new service between Newark Liberty and New Delhi. "The Jet proposal to serve Mumbai nicely complements these proposed US carrier services to other major destinations in India," it said.
Coming out in support of Jet Airways, the Port Authority said: "Addition of its proposed Newark-Brussels-Mumbai service would provide further economic stimulation" to the economy and business of the region.
"Furthermore, because there is existing air carrier service between Newark (and JFK) and both Brussels and Mumbai, Jet Airways' new services will inject important intra-gateway competition on these routes, and provide travellers and shippers in the important markets with improved transportation alternatives," it said.
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