Mumbai, 11 August 2014

Jet Airways, India’s No.2 airline by market share which has not reported an annual profit since 2007 will scrap its low-cost brand JetLite to concentrate on its full-service operation, the airline said on Monday,. Jet is betting on cost cuts and the launch of more international routes to return it to profitability by 2017.

“We as an airline confused customers (with multiple brands) … The main aim in the tie-up will be to increase market share…Jet’s low-cost carrier JetLite operates 11 aircraft….. It will now bear the main airline’s branding, ” Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal said at a press event after the release of the company’s first-quarter results.

The company’s aircraft will now be split between economy and business class seats but the airline’s pricing will remain competitive despite the scrapping of the low-cost carrier, said James Hogan, chief executive of Etihad Airways, which owns a 24 per cent stake in Jet.