HK-India Flights Cancelled Amid Jet Airways' Woes

Flight between Hong Kong and the Indian cities of Mumbai and Delhi were cancelled on Friday as India's Jet Airways cancelled international services amid chronic financial difficulties.

Cancellations will continue until Monday at the earliest as the debt-stricken carrier as it battles to stay afloat.

The development on Friday came after the government said it would investigate Jet's ability to continue flying as lenders desperately seek a buyer to keep the beleaguered airline running.

A collapse would deal a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro-business reputation as Indians vote in a mega six-week-long election that started on Thursday.

A Jet Airways source said all of Jet's international flights out of and into India until Monday had been cancelled, extending a series of cancellations announced on Thursday.

Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu earlier tweeted on Friday that his ministry would "review issues related to Jet Airways" and "take necessary steps to minimise passenger inconvenience and ensure their safety".

Jet was until recently India's second-biggest airline by market share but is close to going under with debts of more than US$1 billion.

The Mumbai-based carrier has been forced to ground the majority of its fleet after months of defaulting on loans and struggling to pay lessors and staff.

It told the Bombay Stock Exchange Thursday that it had grounded 10 more planes due to non-payment.

The airline is believed to now be operating just 16 planes out of a fleet of 119. That is below the 20 required by Indian aviation regulators to fly overseas. (RTHK/AFP)