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As Jet Airways takes a test flight, CEO Sanjiv Kapoor tells staff to have laser-like focus

Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor on Friday asked his staff to “maintain laser-like focus” and said “there is no room for complacency”. Mr Kapoor’s statement follows a day after Jet Airways conducted its test flight to get the air operator certificate (AOC).  

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), a statutory body of the government to regulate civil aviation, grants operators’ licence to fly their aircraft for commercial purposes after they conduct successful test flights. 

Thursday's test flight by Jet Airways to and from the Hyderabad airport was a part of this exercise as it is gearing up to re-launch operations under its new promoters Jalan-Kalrock Consortium. 

“Yesterday was a momentous and emotional day for all of us, with a Jet-registered aircraft, flown by Jet crew and with a Jet call-sign, back in the air after a gap of many years!" Mr Kapoor said in his e-mail to employees.  

Jet Airways has not operated since April 17, 2019. 

After the test flight, Mr Kapoor said that the aircraft had been re-born on its birthday – May 5. 

“The amount of goodwill this generated has been overwhelming. This is the first time ever an airline has been revived and flown under its original call-sign and name after suspending operations for an extended period. It is truly a historic moment,” he mentioned. 

In his e-mail, Mr Kapoor said that he found it hard to hold back tears far away in Dublin in Ireland, and that he could imagine what it must have been like for all of the employees, who had been silently toiling away and waiting and praying for this day to come. 

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