New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) Low-cost carrier SpiceJet has redeployed Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after a gap of almost two and half years.
Airline Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh on Tuesday said that the return of the MAX will be a game-changer for SpiceJet as it will allow the carrier to offer a vastly superior flying experience to passengers.
"After the intense scrutiny this aircraft has gone through, I can say with full confidence that it’s the safest aircraft to fly,” he said.
Following two fatal accidents involving B737 Max (Lion Air flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302), Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had grounded the operation of the aircraft from March 13, 2019.
The regulator in August this year allowed operations of Boeing 737 Max aircraft in the country.
SpiceJet is currently the only operator of the 737 MAX in the country. It had signed a US$22 billion deal with Boeing for up to 205 aircraft in 2017 and has 13 of these planes in its fleet at present.
Celebrating the return to service of the 737 MAX, SpiceJet on Tuesday said it will be deploying these aircraft on both domestic as well as international routes.
“The return of the MAX comes at the perfect time for SpiceJet. With passenger traffic picking up and the government allowing airlines to operate at full capacity, our new planes will allow us to expand our network ahead of the busy travel season and play a major role in our future expansion. With significant cost saving capabilities, we expect a significant reduction in our operating costs improving our bottom line,” said Ajay Singh.
Since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s un-grounding of MAX aircraft in November 2020, more than 175 out of 195 global regulators have opened their airspace to the 737 MAX.
More than 32 airlines have returned their fleets to service and those airlines have safely flown over 235,000 commercial flights, totalling more than 575,000 flight hours.
As per SpiceJet, Boeing 737 MAX can fly non-stop to Singapore, Doha, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur, Tehran, Salalah, Kunming (China), Krabi, Moscow, Istanbul among other international destinations from various international airports in India.
"With a one-stop, the aircraft can easily fly up to Finland, Norway, Morocco, London and Amsterdam," it noted.
UNI NK