SpiceJet has said it has completed reconfiguring a majority of its 53 aircraft fleet giving extra leg room to passengers in front five rows. The move is aimed to attract corporate clients.
SpiceJet which flies a fleet of 189-seat Boeing 737s and Bombardier Q400s has been struggling with a Rs 1,000 crore annual loss last fiscal.
The airline has launched a spate of discount offers and various marketing and branding initiatives to boost occupancy and increase revenue. However the airline continues to face challenges as costs remain high and faces increased competition from airlines.
The airline said now the front five rows will have six inch more leg room in comparison to other seats and the seats can be purchased at extra Rs 500 over ticket price. Passengers opting for the seats branded as SpiceMax will also get priority check-in at major airports.
Announcing the new product, Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Operating Officer, SpiceJet said, "We have repeatedly heard from many of our customers, including our corporate customers, that while they are not always willing to pay the huge premium for business class, they would be happy to pay a little more for greater comfort and convenience in economy class so that they have more personal space, legroom, and greater freedom to work and relax during their frequent travels. They have also said that they would like to speed up the airport check-in process and avoid long queues. It is for these customers that we have designed and launched the all-new SpiceMax."
Kaneswaran Avili, SpiceJet's Chief Commercial Officer, added, "In addition to providing an exciting new product for customers, SpiceMax will also be an important source of ancillary revenues for SpiceJet".