SpiceJet plans aggressive overseas expansion

To add 10 more overseas destinations in next three years

Kalanithi Maran owned SpiceJet Limited today said it plans to aggressively expand its global footprint by adding another 10 new destinations in the next two to three years. The airline company on Friday announced the launch of operations to its 10th destination – Bangalore to Bangkok.

 

“Our wish list is to another 10 new international destinations in our network in the next couple of years. We want to add more Indian Tier-II cities into our international network. We have written to the ministry of civil aviation for granting rights to new destinations like Dubai, Bangkok, Damam, Myanmar and Ho Chi Minh cities among others,” said Kamal Hingorani, Sr. Vice President & Head, Ground Services, SpiceJet.

 

Currently, the company derives 6-7% of its revenues from international routes and it plans to increase it further during the current year. It is planning to connect secondary cities like Coimbatore, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Lucknow with international destinations. On November 22, the airline is starting flight between Madurai and Dubai. 

 

“We are talking of other cities like Calicut, Pune and Lucknow among others. We have written to the ministry of civil aviation for granting rights to connect Amritsar and Chandigarh with Dubai and Bangkok. We wish to operate flights to those destinations that can be covered in five and a half hours from India,” Hingorani said.

 

However, the company has no big plans for domestic network expansion. It plans to further consolidate its presence with more frequency between Tier-II cities and Metros. It is launching its 46th domestic flight between Varanasi and Khajuraho on October 27. 

 

The airline currently operates more than 350 daily flights to over 45 Indian cities and nine international destinations. Today, it launched the direct flights between Bangalore and Bangkok with an inaugural fare of Rs 7,999 for one way. This is its 10th international destination. The airline has deployed new generation Boeing 737-800 on this route.

 

SpiceJet has also started direct services to Sharjah from Pune from September 21, 2013 and is slated to launch direct flights between Madurai and Dubai from November 22, 2013. It is already operating flights to Kabul, Kathmandu, Colombo, Dubai, Riyadh, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Sharjah.

 

V Raja, Senior Vice President, Commercial, SpiceJet said the airline would be taking delivery of 30 Boeing 747 aircraft from January 2014. Every year seven new aircraft will be inducted into the fleet. It currently has 55 aircraft including 15 Bombardier aircraft for shorter routes.