"Consequent to the retirement of Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Regional Director (Northern Region) after the close of the working hours of 30th April, 2019, Capt.

The average duration of delay -- on these 137 flights of Sunday -- would be of 197 minutes, the airline's spokesperson said.

According to airline sources, the software, which is of Atlanta-based SITA company, was not functioning approximately from 3 am to 9 am Saturday. Consequently, boarding passes could not be issued at major airports across the world and various flights were delayed.

The shifting of this debt to AIAHAL from the carrier was one of the steps taken to make the airline attractive to potential buyers.

Before halting operations temporarily mid-last week due to severe cash-drought, the private carrier was forced to ground 69 planes owing to non-payment of rentals to lessors.

Weighed down by a mountain of debt and falling revenue, Jet Airways announced suspension of its entire operations from Wednesday night and owns 16 wide-body planes, 10 B777-300ERs and six Airbus A330s.

SpiceJet is making all possible efforts to soften the blow to the aviation industry caused by Jet’s suspension of operations on Wednesday, said the airline’s chairman and managing director, Ajay Singh.

The airline said the passes featuring the photographs, which were third-party advertisements, would be withdrawn if they are found to be in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

As Pakistan has kept its airspace closed since February 26 due to the Balakot air strike by Indian air force, Air India’s expenditure on flights to Europe and the US have significantly increased.