Jet Airway’s latest Boeing 777-300ER VT-JEL parked in the desert in Arizona

Just about three months ago, Boeing 777-300ER (MSN 36563) which was destined to join the Jet Airway’s fleet as VT-JEL made its first flight. See videos here.

In a sad commentary on the sorry state of the Indian airline industry, Jet Airways has indefinitely deferred the delivery of this aircraft.

Last Thursday, the aircraft still registered in a Boeing registration N834BA made a flight to the Pinal Airpark in the desert at Marana in Arizona to be parked till Jet Airways takes delivery.

Boeing 777-35R-ER 777-300ER n834ba vt-jel msn36563 Jet Airways VT-JELPhoto copyright: Nick Dean, AirlinersGallery

Already Jet Airways had leased out eight of its twelve Boeing 777-300ER fleet, four each to Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines, retaining just four aircraft for its operations.

With Gulf Air cancelling the lease and returning the four aircraft, the Mumbai based carrier is already scrambling and there are no clear plans on if, let alone when, VT-JEL will ever join the fleet or be leased or sold away to some other airline similar to the sorry saga of the Kingfisher Airbus A340-500s to Arik Air.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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