Tag Archives: SpiceJet

Kalanithi Maran’s takeover will make SpiceJet a game changer in Indian aviation

After six months of discussions, it is finally official. Media baron and political heavyweight, Kalanithi Maran will acquire a majority stake in low fare carrier SpiceJet.Mr. Maran in his individual capacity and via his aviation company KAL Airways jointly owned with wife Kaveri, will initially acquire the 37.73% stake of the Kansagara family promoted Royal Holding Services Ltd., Wilbur Ross …

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SpiceJet sponsors the first ever plane spotting photo contest in India

This is good news for the members of the Aviation Photographers India. Gurgaon based value carrier is breaking new ground and sponsoring the first ever plane spotting photo contest in India. Winners will get free round-trip tickets on the SpiceJet network. The pictures can be uploaded to the SpiceJet Facebook page or sent via e-mail to spicejet.photos@gmail.com. Full details of …

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Indian airline market overview for 2010

I was recently interviewed by AirObserver on the outlook for 2010 for carriers in India, with a specific focus on the low fare / value carrier segment. Please read the interview here. For an in-depth feature comparison between various Indian carriers I recommend this article . I also recommend these articles as additional reading for more details on the low …

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SpiceJet’s new TV advertisements

Gurgaon based value carrier has introduced some clever advertising on TV screens across the nation promoting features of the airline like web check in which is also offered by other low fare competitors, and complimentary supervision of unaccompanied minors which is a USP for the carrier.

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SpiceJet review – Q3 results, preparations for international operations, new aircraft

India’s second largest value carrier, SpiceJet, has been in the news over the last ten days with a variety of announcements. Maintenance contract with MAS-GMR Aerospace Engineering Company Ltd. and MAS Aerospace Engineering (MAE) SpiceJet has signed a three year maintenance support agreement with MAE for the carrier’s fleet of all Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER aircraft. SpiceJet is the launch …

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Kingfisher, Air India, and SpiceJet best airlines to fly during the Delhi winter fog season

The dreaded winter fog season which plagues all transport services operating at the national capital, New Delhi, is fast approaching. Air travel is particularly hard hit with scores flights being delayed, diverted or outright cancelled. In our quest to help air travellers in India, to better plan and minimise the disruptive impact of fog, Bangalore Aviation sent out a questionnaire …

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A string of aviation incidents in India in the last 24 hours — one extremely reckless

Over the 24 hours a string of aviation incidents have come to light across India. One is a minor mistake with major reaction, and one which can be only described as outright reckless. 1. Jet Airways. VT-JGC. On 20th October, a Jet Airways Boeing 737-900 registration VT-JGC performing flight 9W 332 from New Delhi Indira Gandhi International to Mumbai Chhatrapati …

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Children under 12 fly free with SpiceJet special Children’s Day offer

Delhi based value carrier SpiceJet announced a special offer to commemorate Children’s Day. Children under 12 years of age will fly free on all bookings done on November 13 and 14, 2009. Only the statutory charges ranging between Rs 229~Rs 604 will be charged. A special bag of goodies await all children who fly any SpiceJet flight on November 14, …

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India’s low fare carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo power ahead with profits

While India’s three legacy carriers Air India, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher Airlines struggle with mounting losses, the low fare carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet are making steady progress and have declared profits. (Read related SpiceJet story). Over the year the two airlines have followed similar yet distinctly different business models from each other on their path to profitability and increased market …

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SpiceJet launches Privilege Pass programme in alliance with budget and upscale hotels

New Delhi based value carrier, SpiceJet announced the launch of the SpiceJet Privilege Pass Programme in partnership with Trident Hotels, Ista Hotels, Keys Hotels, Pride Hotels, Maidens Hotels, Rain Tree Hotels, JHM Interstate and The Park. Modelled after Singapore Airline’s Boarding Pass privileges programme, passengers can avail special benefits from the partner hotels on presentation of their SpiceJet boarding pass. …

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SpiceJet introduces more flights into Goa

By improving its operational efficiencies, New Delhi based value carrier SpiceJet has introduced four new flights from Mumbai and Bangalore into Dabolim airport serving the state of Goa, one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. SpiceJet has taken its daily departures up from 125 to 129 to capitalise on the upcoming festival and new year season when tourist …

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New age low fare carriers – great value for money and a far cry from RyanAir

About two weeks ago, Air India announced it was going to extend its low cost operation Air India Express in to the domestic market. Across Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites I detected a snigger from many fellow aviation bloggers and enthusiasts – Air India, a national carrier going low cost ? How low can Air India fall ? …

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Strike threat by private Indian airlines fizzles out – why it was doomed to fail

Within the weekend the threatened strike action by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) on August 18th has fizzled out. On Friday July 31, the FIA members barring state owned Air India, took India by storm and announced they would suspend all domestic flights on August 18th in protest of the vindictive tax policies on the aviation industry specifically aviation …

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SpiceJet swings to profit as passengers shift to value carriers

Last year 55% of domestic passengers in India flew by a full service carrier and 45% by value carriers. This year the number was inverted — 55% flew by value carriers. The shift has compelled the Full Service Airlines in India, to start re-thinking their business model and announcing plans to introduce ‘single-class, no-frills’ services and deploying considerable capacity to …

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Indian airlines still owe $445 million to oil companies

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, informed the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) that Indian domestic airlines Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, National Aviation Company of India Ltd (Air India), Paramount and SpiceJet, still owe a whopping Rs. 2,225.52 Crore ($445 million) to the stated owned oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum …

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SpiceJet, Jet Airways group launch special monsoon 5 day advance purchase fares

The monsoon season is upon India, finally, though the spectre of drought is not fully removed. This is a traditionally low season for air travel and SpiceJet has launched special five day advance purchase fares to encourage travel during this period. Tickets to all 18 SpiceJet destinations are available starting from Rs. 2,429 all inclusive. For full details visit SpiceJet …

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News Brief: GoAir increases Bangalore flights; Kingfisher delays results; Air India analysis; SpiceJet appoints new CFO

Go Air increases Bangalore flights. GoAir recently inducted it’s eighth Airbus A320-214, most likely VT-WAK. (Despite follow up the airline’s media partner could not give me the information.) After a complete withdrawal from Bangalore, GoAir has re-focussed on Bangalore with two new connections to Mumbai and New Delhi, taking the airline’s total number of weekly flights to 377. With the …

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SpiceJet reports fourth quarter 2009 and annual results – moves closer to break even

New Delhi based low cost carrier SpiceJet reported it’s fiscal 2009 fourth quarter (ending March 31, 2009) and annual results. Despite a 13% increase in operating income to Rs. 16.894 billion ($344.77 million) annual net losses for the year grew by 165% to Rs. 3.53 billion ($73.4 million). Operating expenses excluding interest, depreciation and taxes, grew 42.3% to Rs. 21.127 …

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Domestic passenger traffic rises 20% in May

Buoyed by the summer holiday season and the continuing rise in the Indian economy, domestic passenger traffic rose by almost 20% to 3.93 million in May from 3.315 million passengers in April. There was no significant change in the market shares of the various airlines, but the low cost carriers IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go Air and JetLite have continued increasing their …

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Special low fares from IndiGo, SpiceJet, JetLite and Jet Airways

The offers are just too many to list, but in short after the bonanza for international travellers courtesy Singapore Airlines, Emirates, British Airways and Lufthansa, there is now a bonanza for domestic travellers, courtesy IndiGo, Jet Airways, JetLite, and SpiceJet. I would assume that Kingfisher too would have some scheme but I have not received any information from the airline. …

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