SpiceJet endeavours to order ‘substantial’ number of aircraft, including smaller aircraft, within this fiscal. The airline has already expanded its fleet in October by leasing six aircraft which raises its capacity in the winter schedule by 16 percent. And deliveries of the 55 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, which were ordered earlier, are slated to start only by end of next year.
SpiceJet's chairman Ajay Singh stated in a press statement that the new government policy provides significant incentives for regional air travel and Spicejet expect substantial growth. He further added that the growth would be coming to the tier II and tier III towns and that Spicejet intend to expand on itsbase of being the largest operator of regional jets in India.
Not just single aisle planes, SpiceJet could also expand its fleet of 15 Q400 Bombardier aircraft by ordering more Bombardiers or going in for another small aircraft type. Singh said eventually, the 737 deliveries will be subsumed into the fresh order.
While declining to get into the numbers of aircraft that the airline planned to order, he did say that the small aircraft that SpiceJet is looking to acquire will seat a maximum of 80 passengers.