Cash-starved carrier Jet Airways said on Wednesday that some aircraft were grounded because of technical and temporary reasons, denying a news report that said the planes were not flying because of a default in lease-rent payment.

The carrier, struggling to repay debt, is regularly providing updates to lessors on efforts to improve liquidity and they, including GECAS, have been supportive, the airlines said in a stock exchange filing.

Jet has grounded one aircraft for expiration of its engine lease, while another was idled for technical reasons. Three more planes have been temporarily grounded to carry out engine-normalisation exercises and are expected to resume operations by Friday, the company said. The company is also in the process of returning three aircraft to its lessors after their lease terms ended.

The carrier is making efforts to minimise disruptions and accommodate affected flyers, while keeping the regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation updated, according to the filing.

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