Jet Airways has received its revalidated air operator certificate (AOC) from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
With the receipt of the AOC, the Jalan Kalrock Consortium has "fulfilled all conditions precedent under their NCLT approved resolution plan", Jet Airways says in a 20 May press release, referring to India's National Company Law Tribunal, which adjudicates insolvency processes. The revalidation of the AOC enables Jet Airways to resume its scheduled commercial operations in India, it adds. The airline intends to restart commercial operations in the third quarter of 2022. It says it will unveil "in a phased manner" details of its aircraft and fleet plan, network, product and customer value proposition, loyalty programme, and other details "over the coming weeks". Next week, additional senior management appointments will be announced, it adds. Hiring for operational roles will now "commence in earnest", with preference given to former Jet Airways staff "wherever possible". Jet Airways says receiving the revalidated AOC is a "significant milestone" that paves the way "for the comeback of the iconic airline in a new avatar with fresh funding, changed ownership, and new management". The granting of the AOC was the final step in a "comprehensive" regulatory and compliance process involving "several procedural checks for the airline's operational readiness", the airline states. The process concluded with the airline having successfully conducted a number of proving flights between 15 and 17 May, with key DGCA officials on board, it goes on to say. It says: "The grant of the AOC revalidates the confidence of the DGCA in the operational preparedness of Jet Airways." Jet Airways was launched in 1993 and suspended operations in April 2019. The company is in the process of being revived under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy code as per the NCLT-approved resolution plan of the Jalan Kalrock Consortium. That consortium consists of UAE businessman Marari Jalan and UK-based Kalrock Capital.

The UK government has announced additional sanctions against Aeroflot, Ural Airlines and Rossiya, aimed at preventing them from selling the airport slots they hold. The government says that under the new measures the three Russian carriers will not be able to sell their "unused, lucrative" UK landing slots – the value of which is estimated at £50 million ($62 million). "We've already closed our airspace to Russian airlines," states UK foreign secretary Liz Truss. "Today, we're making sure they can't cash in their lucrative landing slots at our airports. Every economic sanction reinforces our clear message to Putin – we will not stop until Ukraine prevails." Data from UK airport slot co-ordinator ACL's website shows that Aeroflot holds 35 weekly slot-pairs at Heathrow. Ural Airlines has one slot pair a week at the UK hub. Rossiya doesn't hold any Heathrow slots but holds a daily slot-pair at London Gatwick. Without designation Aeroflot would retain the rights to those slots and be able to trade them with other airlines. Although Aeroflot is not currently using the slots, under the current restrictions they have been granted "justified non-use" which contributes to the 70% usage requirement for them to retain the slots. As a result of these economic resources being frozen, ACL should not facilitate the trading of any slots which the airlines hold. ACL cannot allocate slots to sanctioned airlines for future seasons nor can it continue granting alleviation for cancellations made by Russian carriers in the current summer 2022 season. Slots for which Russian airlines currently hold historic rights will be returned to the slot pool for re-allocation to other airlines. Independent consultant Edmond Rose estimates that in normal times Aeroflot's slots would be worth £40-55 million. The ACL website shows that there have been no leasing or trading of slots by the Russian carriers since 2018. The three carriers have been prevented from operating into UK airspace since the invasion of Ukraine, a move reciprocated by Russian authorities in relation to British Airways' Moscow flights. The Russian airlines are subject to asset freezes, and former Aeroflot chief executive Mikhail Igorevich Poluboyarinov was personally sanctioned by the UK in March.

Thai AirAsia X on 17 May filed for a rehabilitation process with the Thai Central Bankruptcy Court and has begun preparations to initiate it. The carrier intends to revamp its administration process and restructure debts, delivering greater efficiency and a solid platform for robust future growth after weathering the Covid-19 pandemic, it says in a statement today. The process will have no impact on passengers as operations will continue as usual and Thai AirAsia X prepares to reintroduce flights to South Korea and Japan from June 2022 onwards, it adds. Moreover, there will be no impact or any effect on Thai AirAsia and Asia Aviation, which are separate entities with discrete operations and routes. Once the Thai Central Bankruptcy Court grants its order for Thai AirAsia X to enter into the rehabilitation process, the carrier will draft a rehabilitation plan and bolster its liquidity to ensure it operates at full capacity. Progress on the airline's rehabilitation process will be reported periodically. Chief executive Patima Jeerapaet states: "Thai AirAsia X also has further plans for expansion and will be adding flight frequencies and new routes in line with demand."