Tag Archives: SpiceJet

Aviation Regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday, has placed low-cost carrier SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance due to safety deficiencies uncovered during a recent audit of August 2024. This is the third time SpiceJet has faced strict supervision from the regulator, following safety incidents in 2022 and weak finances in 2023. The airline’s monetary troubles have resurfaced, as evidenced by recent incidents like the Dubai Airport halting boarding of SpiceJet flights due to unpaid dues and flights being unable to fly over Pakistan due to unpaid overflying charges. The DGCA’s decision to place SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance underlines ongoing safety concerns with the airline’s operations. The repeated regulatory scrutiny of SpiceJet can damage the reputation of India’s aviation industry and raise questions about safety standards. “Due to concerns about SpiceJet’s recent flight cancellations and financial difficulties, the DGCA conducted a special audit of the airline’s engineering facilities on 7 and 8 August, 2024. This audit uncovered certain deficiencies,” the DGCA announced on Thursday. The DGCA will conduct more spot checks and night surveillance to ensure safety of SpiceJet’s operations. The airline faces significant financial challenges, including unpaid dues to aircraft lessors, vendors, and suppliers. SpiceJet’s market share in India’s aviation sector has been declining, further impacting its financial stability. While most Indian airlines rebounded significantly from the COVID-19 pandemic, SpiceJet faced ongoing financial challenges. SpiceJet’s repeated regulatory interventions and ongoing financial struggles pose a serious challenge to the airline’s future. The DGCA’s decision to place the airline under enhanced surveillance underscores the need for immediate action to address safety concerns and ensure the well-being of passengers.

SpiceJet recently signed an interline deal with Hahn Air. Since 2016, SpiceJet has already been available under Hahn Air’s H1 code in all major Global Distribution Systems . Due to the new interline agreement, the airline will be additionally available under their own SG code in the Amadeus GDS. Travel agents around the world can issue SpiceJet flights on the insolvency-safe HR-169 ticket by choosing Hahn Air as the validating carrier. In addition, travel agents using the Amadeus GDS can combine SpiceJet’s flights with other Hahn Air partners’ flights on one single ticket. SpiceJet is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. The airline serves various destinations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2022, SpiceJet earned several accolades, including Safety Performer of the Year by DIAL and Wings India Aviation Innovation Award 2022. Most recently, SpiceJet received the Bronze Stevie® Award for Customer Service Department of the Year. SpiceJet’s fleet comprises of 27 Boeing and eight DHC Q400 aircraft. Kimberley Long, Vice President Agency Distribution at Hahn Air said, “We are proud to increase our partnership with SpiceJet”. “By providing a wealth of destinations and excellent service, this award-winning airline is very popular with travellers. We are pleased to now offer the travel agency community several options for easy access to this airline. even in markets where SpiceJet does not grant ticketing authority for SG or where the airline is not a member of the local BSP or ARC.” Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Commercial Officer, SpiceJet, said, “We are glad to partner with Hahn Air for distribution of our flights to over 190 markets that will help international passengers to seamlessly travel across various parts of India with ease and beyond. The interline agreement with Hahn Air and the strong distribution network of …

Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, has said, “The budget is growth oriented and yet prudent and responsible. Coming as it does in a year when India has assumed the presidency of the G20, it is an object lesson in how an economy should be managed in a crisis.”

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet said that the sharp increase in jet fuel prices and the depreciation of the rupee have left domestic airlines to raise fares and a minimum 10-15% increase in fares is required to ensure that cost of operations are better sustained. 

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet has said that SpiceJet will induct more Boeing 737 Max aircraft over the next few months and it hopes to start broadband internet service on its planes soon. The airline has a fleet of 91 aircraft, out of which 13 are Max planes and 46 are older versions of Boeing 737 aircraft. 

Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, has said that India with its size and being the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, needs to have its own hub and global carriers that can take Indians directly to destinations in Europe or the USA, so that we can bypass their hubs.

SpiceJet has offered to pay Rs.600 crore in cash in the share transfer case with its former promoter Kalanithi Maran and his firm KAL Airways for a full and final settlement of all disputes. The offer was made during the hearing in the Supreme Court today. Out of the principal amount of Rs. 578 crore awarded in arbitration, SpiceJet has already paid Rs. 308 crore in cash and deposited a bank guarantee of Rs.270 crore. Mukul Rohatgi, Senior Counsel appearing for SpiceJet proposed to pay the bank guarantee equivalent amount of Rs.270 crore in cash and top it up with additional Rs.22 crore aggregating the total payout to Rs.600 crore as full and final settlement of all disputes between the Parties. The Court has advised the other side to consider the proposal of SpiceJet and has listed the matter on 14 Feb 2022. Earlier an arbitration tribunal consisting of three retired judges from the Supreme Court, Arijit Pasayat, Hemant Laxman Gokhale and KSP Radhakrishnan in a unanimous decision had rejected the damages claim of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways against SpiceJet.   

Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, at a post-budget interaction with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, put forth the difficulties being faced by civil aviation, travel, tourism and hospitality sectors. He requested her to consider granting infrastructure status to these sectors to facilitate lending by banks and financial institutions. He also requested the Hon’ble Finance Minister’s support for inclusion of Aviation Turbine Fuel under GST. The FM gave a positive response to consider these issues.

SpiceJet has partnered with Thrillophilia, allowing customers to book tours, activities and experiences even before the start of the trip. The strategic partnership will enable SpiceJet passengers to choose and book from more than 24,000 handpicked activities and experiences across 55+ countries. Travelling on budget or luxuriously, whether it’s a family trip, a romantic honeymoon or simply an adventure tour, the platform will offer carefully designed packages to ensure one enjoys a great travel experience every single time. Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Commercial Officer, SpiceJet said, “Planning a vacation should be seamless and enjoyable which is what we aim to offer with this partnership with Thrillophilia. Customer centricity is at the heart of everything we do at SpiceJet and this is yet another step in that direction whereby customers can avail the best of both domestic and international travel experiences on a platter.”

SpiceJet on  Thursday said it will begin trial of IATA (International Air Transport Association) Travel Pass mobile app for digital health verification. The trial will be conducted on flights out of Mumbai to Male effective August 23, 2021, as a step towards building passenger confidence as international travel picks up. Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “SpiceJet is proud to collaborate with IATA to trial IATA’s Travel Pass initiative. Passenger safety and comfort has always been our top priority and the introduction of the Travel Pass will make the verification process absolutely simple and hassle-free, boost both passenger and government confidence and make international travel more efficient and secure.” “I am happy that IATA has confirmed SpiceHealth labs for the Travel Pass trial enabling it to securely share certified test and vaccination certificates with passengers that will be recognized by governments abroad.” “Adding SpiceJet to the growing list of airlines trialling IATA Travel Pass is another step towards demonstrating to governments how digital solutions can effectively manage both COVID-19 vaccine and test certificates for travel. IATA Travel Pass will simplify and enhance compliance with health requirements for SpiceJet’s passengers, facilitating a more seamless experience,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety,and Security. The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile application that helps travellers to store and manage their verified certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccinations. The Travel Pass will manage and verify the traveller’s COVID-19 status in line with governments’ health and border requirements. In another significant development, SpiceHealth has been on-boarded by IATA as a lab partner for the Travel Pass trial. SpiceHealth is a healthcare company founded by the promoters of SpiceJet. SpiceHealth has …