SpiceJet did a SpiceJet again today. That is, the airline’s oft-repeated feat of clambering back just when everyone thought it was at an abyss of no return.
On Tuesday morning, the Gurugram-based budget airline announced that it will induct back into service tomorrow onward the first of its grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
"The re-induction of our first grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft…underscores our unwavering commitment to restoring and enhancing our fleet’s operational capacity," said SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh, adding that the airline remains focused on "scaling new heights, offering exceptional service, and driving sustainable growth for our passengers and stakeholders."
Over the course of the next three months, the airline plans to bring back into service a total of 10 aircraft. This will include four B737 MAX aircraft. Already, over the past three months, SpiceJet had inducted 10 aircraft, including three grounded planes and seven leased aircraft. On Monday, the airline also announced new services to Prayagraj to capitalise on the Mahakumbh rush, amongst the 60 new routes it has announced over the last three months.
The fuel-efficient B737 aircraft was a cornerstone of SpiceJet’s strategy to cut fuel costs and enhance efficiency. The airline was forced to ground the aircraft following a global outcry over the safety of these models after two back-to-back crashes in 2019, one off the Indonesian coast and the other in Ethiopia.
“The (re)induction of these fuel-efficient planes will result in significant cost savings due to the MAX’s reduced fuel consumption, lower maintenance requirements, and higher aircraft utilisation, all of which will contribute to further optimising the airline’s operations," according to an official statement released by the airline on Tuesday morning.
The B737 MAX model forms the bulwark of SpiceJet’s plans for revival, which includes sorting out litigations against it, paying up where needed and getting fuel-efficient aircraft like the B737 MAX which will help it fly longer distances to high-demand destinations like Riyadh and Jeddah without any operational restrictions.
SpiceJet recently entered into services agreements with StandardAero Inc., a leading US-based engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, and CFM International, Inc., the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for LEAP-1B engines to facilitate faster restoration of its MAX fleet.
