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Gurgaon, India based value carrier SpiceJet has placed a fresh order for 30 addition Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with deliveries commencing from 2014.
The new aircraft will incorporate the new, spacious 737 Boeing Sky Interior (click link for images) with soft blue cove lighting, curving architecture and larger window that will offer a sense of spaciousness in the cabin and comfort for the passengers. The Sky Interior cabin features larger cabin baggage stowage bins, which pivot upwards and out of the way and whose shape adds to the open feel of the cabin. The cabin also features new noise dampening materials a new integrated air grille to make the cabin quieter for a more comfortable flight.
SpiceJet’s has a current fleet size of 21 Boeing 737-800 and 737-900 with seven more 737-800’s to be delivered about once a quarter till 2012. The airline took delivery of VT-SGG it’s 21st Boeing 737NG just last month. It’s 22nd aircraft VT-SGH had it’s first flight just three days ago.
Due to the fractured ownership, fleet growth at SpiceJet was limited till now, and the carrier fell behind Interglobe owned IndiGo airlines which is also based at Gurgaon near the national capital New Delhi. IndiGo which has an on-going order for 100 Airbus A320-200s is aggressively acquiring new aircraft and growing market share.
The recent acquisition of a majority stake by media baron Kalanithi Maran has consolidated the ownership and led to faster decision making. SpiceJet which has won rights to fly international routes, announced earlier today, that it is in the process of evaluating a far more aggressive fleet expansion over the next 18-24 months than originally planned.
Mr. Kishore Gupta, Director and interim CEO, said
“We are currently seeing a strong resurgence in domestic air traffic on the back of a robust macro-economic growth. We expect domestic demand to grow at 16% during the current year and to sustain a 12-14% annual growth going forward in the medium-term. This growth will necessitate significant capacity induction and the fresh order announced by us today will ensure that SpiceJet will remain at the forefront of the growth story in the Indian skies.”
