Jet gets security clearance to mount US flights

New Delhi, Nov 16: The US State Department has given security clearance to Jet Airways enabling it to launch flights to the United States, officials said today.

The clearance was formally granted to the country's largest airline by the Department of Transportation after the state department said the airline had passed security, officials at the US embassy here said.

Jet had planned to launch operations to the United States a year ago but an American company of the same name alleged that the Indian carrier had links with terrorist masterminds like Dawood Ibrahim and outfits like Al Qaeda.

Following the allegations, the department of transportation sought information from the Indian government and investigated the matter.

Jet Airways had then indicated that it would take legal action against the United States-based Jet Airways Inc whose president and chief executive officer had alleged that the Indian carrier had links with terrorist organisation Al Qaeda.

After the allegations, the department of transportation sought information from the Indian government and investigated the matter.

The Union Home Ministry had last year given clearance after a fresh inquiry.

The airline had earlier planned to launch flights to New York via Brussels. Jet Airways has now sought the Civil Aviation Ministry clearance to operate to New York and San Francisco from the summer of 2007.

It has also sought permission to fly to Toronto via Hong Kong and Dusseldorf from next year, besides China. Other destinations it plans to fly to in the near future are South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Rome, Zurich, Munich and Frankfurt.

Last week, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel expressed annoyance at the delay in security clearance to Jet, but said that all required procedures have to be followed before the airline was granted permission to operate to the United States.

UNI