SpiceJet has acquired its first Boeing 737-900ER (Extended Range) aircraft, making it the operator of the largest aircraft in the domestic skies.

Belonging to the next generation of Boeing 737 family, the new aircraft has an enhanced seating capacity of 212 though all its operations are similar to that of Boeing 737-800 which is currently being operated by SpiceJet.



Addressing the media on board during the second flight of the new aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport here earlier this week, SpiceJet Ltd Executive Chairman Siddhanta Sharma said the Boeing 737-900ER had been acquired as part of the airline’s aggressive growth strategy.

“The new aircraft will fly on high-density long-distance routes on the SpiceJet network. It will initially be deployed on the carrier’s existing Delhi-Goa-Mumbai route. The new Boeing will help us deploy greater seat capacity in popular sectors helping resolve slot constraints by accommodating higher loads. Its low operation cost will also help us become more profitable,” he said.

17/11/07 The Hindu

Budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd hopes to break-even by March 2008, and eyes a fleet of 31 planes by 2011, senior executives said on Wednesday.

SpiceJet swung to a net profit in April-June quarter, but posted a net loss in the July-Sept quarter on account of the lean monsoon season. Executive Chairman Siddhant Sharma said the third quarter would be profitable, helped by festivals and holidays.



"We are on track to break even, but higher oil prices continue to be a cause of concern," Sharma told reporters after inducting a new plane into the firm's fleet.
Yields would rise by 200 to 300 rupees per seat at Spice in the October-December quarter, he said.Sharma forecast airline fares rising by 5 to 7 percent across the industry, including Spice.

14/11/07 Reuters India

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Pune: More take-offs on existing routes, package deals with the hospitality industry, and even an entry into the international markets, is what SpiceJet has on the cards for itself.

According to Kamal Hingorani, vice-president, marketing and planning, SpiceJet, the month of October could see the airline commencing flights from Pune to Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.



Pune-Chennai would have a daily, direct flight, while it would fly Pune-Hyderabad on all days except Tuesday. The Pune-Ahmedabad flight would be weekly service every Tuesday.

Hingorani said that there would be four departures and arrivals. Inaugural fares are to be pegged at Rs1,699 for the Pune-Chennai route, and Rs799 for the Pune-Hyderabad route, plus taxes as applicable.

The Pune-Ahmedabad route was somewhat of a relaunch for the airline, as previously it had been a night slot that had been discontinued.

SpiceJet is also planning flights to Port Blair, which would originate from Chennai and Kolkata. Also on the anvil are plans to connect Pune with Kochi and Goa. These flights are expected to taxi onto the Pune runway, once it's resurfacing is completed around March 2008.

Incidentally, SpiceJet has also reduced its Delhi-Mumbai flights from six to one.

Hingorani also said that SpiceJet was negotiating with hospitality companies in Goa and Kochi, for possible tie-ups with three- and four-star hotels. Presently, the airline was targeting only stand-alone hotels in these cities, and expects to launch these packages in about three months.

SpiceJet is awaiting government approval for going international. Hingorani added that the airline has identified West and South East Asia to as its first ports of call for its international operations. The South East Asian locations would probably be Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore while the foremost location in West Asia would be Dubai, according to the company.

Hit by monsoon blues, budget carriers, Air Deccan and SpiceJet, have suffered loss in market share during July 2007 — the latest month for which official traffic data is available. According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) figures, full-service carriers marginally increased their market share during the month.


Country’s largest low-cost carrier, Air Deccan, saw its market share going down to 16.1% in July this year, down by 2 percentage points as compared to the previous month. SpiceJet’s share stood at 7.7% during the month as against 7.7% in June.
SpiceJet’s seat factor declined to 71.4% during July as compared to 77.9% in June. Seat factor of Air Deccan fell too sharply in July to 67.7% from 84.8% in June. The declining share of the two low-cost players is probably on account of hike in fares which has improved their revenues.

SpiceJet officials, however, could not be contacted for comment. Market share of full service airlines — Indian, Jet Airways and Kingfisher –– increased marginally. The market share of Indian went up to 20.5% in July as compared to 19.8% in June. Jet, the market leader, increased its share to 22.7% as compared to 22% in the previous month. Kingfisher increased its market share to 13% in July as compared to 12.9% in June.

22/09/07 Nirbhay Kumar/Economic Times

SpiceJet is focusing on the southern and eastern sectors, which will ultimately help its international ambitions.

The low-cost carrier’s logic is that since the two sectors generate the maximum traffic on the Gulf and Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) regions, it makes sense to focus there.

Samyukth Sridharan, chief commercial officer, SpiceJet, told DNA Money that the Asean and Middle East (once the government allows other domestic carriers to fly to this region) countries were on its radar.

“The east and south generate a lot of traffic to the Asean and Gulf regions and thus it makes sense to bolster our network in these two zones now. We have already consolidated our network in the west and north,” Sridharan said.

Port Blair is another destination the carrier is keen on and has filed for schedules on the route.

SpiceJet is not looking at investing in any more aircraft for its prospective overseas services and would operate with its existing fleet.

28/08/07 Madhumita Mookerji/Daily News & Analysis