Jet Airways, India’s biggest and most-established private airline, is cutting 1,900 jobs from its 13,000-strong workforce, a move it says is necessary to stave off collapse given the “exceptional” pressures confronting the airline industry.

The announcement came as Praful Patel, the aviation minister, blamed heavy taxes on jet fuel for creating a “severe crisis”, which was threatening what has been one of the economy’s fastest-growing sectors.