SpiceJet, a low-cost airline, may explore acquiring widebody aircraft for long-haul operations in the future, according to its CEO Ajay Singh. Singh emphasized that the airline will need to consider widebody aircraft to meet the growing demand in India. He also mentioned that they are currently in discussions with major manufacturers to look at potential orders for widebody aircraft. This comes after other Indian carriers, such as Air India and IndiGo, have placed large orders for widebody aircraft in recent years.
Singh highlighted that SpiceJet has experience with long-haul operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, where they wet-leased widebodies for repatriation and charter flights. However, the airline is currently focused on stabilizing its operations and resolving its debt issues, which include several rounds of fundraising in 2024.
The return of SpiceJet’s Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft is crucial to the airline, as it allows them to operate to high-demand markets like Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia without restrictions. By April, the airline expects to have four more Max 8s back in service, which will help them to rebuild their capacity and profitability. While there is no definitive timeline for SpiceJet’s entry into the widebody market, Singh suggests that it may be a focus for the airline in the future once they have stabilized their operations.