SpiceJet is focusing on the southern and eastern sectors, which will ultimately help its international ambitions.
The two sectors generate the maximum traffic on Gulf, Asean regions
KOLKATA: 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. /R
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.
“We are expecting some relaxed norms from the government by the middle of next year,” said Sridharan.
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel’s recent indications that the government may do away with the five-year domestic operation norm for carriers keen to fly overseas should encourage him.
It seems the ministry may allow carriers to fly overseas on a case-to-case basis.
By that time, Sridharan said, SpiceJet will have about 20 aircraft.
The airline is set to get delivery of its 15th aircraft soon, and by the end of next fiscal, 10 more will be added.
Airports in the east are the fastest-growing in the country, said Sridharan. Kolkata, Bhubaneswar Silchar and Guwahati are among the most promising ones, he said.
Apart from re-launching Delhi-Kolkata flights by end-October, a Bangalore-Kolkata flight will start around the same time.
In the south, the key base is Hyderabad and the carrier will look to add Bangalore - where a new airport is giving hopes of improved parking conditions. The Kochi-Delhi route has recently been added.
Overall, the carrier is looking at increasing its present 89 flights to about 170 in the next phase of expansion.
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