MUMBAI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- India's beleaguered private airline Jet Airways has suspended services to Abu Dhabi and slashed the number of flights to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates till March-end, media reported quoting a statement from Etihad Airport Services on Monday.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad owns 24-percent stake in Jet Airways and its fund infusion to revive the Indian airline is at discussion stage.
According to the statement from Etihad Airport Services, the airline has cancelled all its flights from Monday for operational reasons. It has also stopped Delhi-Dubai flights.
The move may affect transit passengers of Jet-Etihad combine as a large number of Jet Airways passengers travelling to Europe, Africa and North America from India connect through Abu Dhabi.
Three years ago, the combined networks of Etihad and Jet Airways offered over 250 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. However, this number has dropped significantly in the past few months due to failing financial health of both airlines, The Times of India reported.
Jet Airways has been committing payment to vendors and has not been able to meet them till now, due to lack of clarity in fund raising.
Meanwhile, bankers have told Jet's strategic partner Etihad Airways, which is also saddled with losses that if it is unable to accept the terms to revive the troubled airlines, it should exit so that a new investor can be brought in, media reports said.
