However, the airline clarified that the delay was not on account of the objection filed by an American company called Jet Airways Inc with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) against use of its trademark in the US.

According to Mr Saroj K. Datta, Executive Director, the delay was on account of the fact that the airline is yet to complete some preparatory documentation, as approval from the Indian authorities was a little late in coming.

"We have filed our application for issue of an operating permit with the US authorities. The applications are under the consideration of the DOT. The start of the US service may be delayed by a few days at the most," he added.

Meanwhile, the airline has said that all allegations by Jet Airways Inc against it are baseless and "an attempt to besmirch its reputation".

Jet Airways (India) Ltd has taken a serious view of the allegations, which amount to harassment, and is in the process of instructing American lawyers to take legal action against the President and CEO of that company.

"Jet Airways (India) has decided to take legal recourse and our legal advisors in the US will advise us on the best course of action," Mr Datta said.

He added that investigations by Jet showed that the American airline company was not a certified airline and did not seem to have made any applications to fly in the US. Neither did it have any planes registered in its name.

Mr Peter Luethi, COO of Jet Airways, said that loads on the airline's recently launched services to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and London had picked up.

The Mumbai-Singapore service had developed well with average loads in the range of 70-75 per cent.

The Chennai-Kuala Lumpur service was recording loads of 50 per cent in business class and 70 per cent in economy class, he said.

The Mumbai-London service had also recorded 25-50 per cent loads in business class and between 120 and 150 seats in the economy class. He was optimistic that loads would improve in the high season. -- HBL