India’s low-cost carrier SpiceJet is on an expansion spree as the airline has announced plans to expand its business over the next two years. The plan includes increased connectivity between various tourist and religious destinations including Lakshadweep, the airline’s chief Ajay Singh informed.
Earlier last week, Gurgram-based airline started direct flight service connecting Ayodhya with eight cities. The strategic initiative enhances accessibility for devotees and tourists seeking the ‘darshan’ of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in the newly consecrated temple of Ayodhya.
“The commencement of non-stop flight services by SpiceJet to Ayodhya from Darbhanga, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Patna, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru not only enhances Ayodhya’s connectivity but also holds the potential to boost tourism.” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a press statement issued by the state government.
The domestic carrier is also planning to operate seaplanes and is awaiting infrastructure development for water ports, the airline’s chief Ajay Singh mentioned to PTI.
“I think this is the time to expand. SpiceJet will do its utmost to expand its business over the next two years. We want to connect many tourist destinations, religious tourism, medical tourism, places like Lakshadweep,” Singh said in reply to a question on the company’s expansion plan.
The carrier already has the license to operate seaplanes and plans are in the works to connect several locations through seaplane services, he added.
Notably, the airline is eyeing to connect Ayodhya with more locations through its network, Singh said every large and small city today wants connectivity with Ayodhya. So the plans are in the works.
“There is no doubt that Ayodhya will be one of the leading tourism destinations in the world. Just like you hear about the Vatican or Mecca, I have no doubt that Ayodhya will become the largest tourist destination in the world,” Spicejet’s CMD said.
SpiceJet’s Rs 900 crore plan for fleet upgradation
A few days back, SpiceJet announced that it has more than Rs 900 crore in funding coming in this month. The airline aims to utilise this funding for the upgradation of its fleet and cost-cutting measures.
In an internal note to the senior staff, the airline said it now has a substantial bank balance of more than Rs 900 crore, including Rs 160 crore received as an installment under the government’s Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).
The Gurugram-based carrier, which had been facing multiple headwinds in recent months, has so far received around Rs 1,000 crore under the ECLGS.
Domestic aviation sector gets a major boost with Ayodhya Dham
With Ayodhya redefining the Indian aviation sector, domestic carriers in the country have also gotten a major push. Domestic airline Zooom relaunched its services with a special flight from the national capital to Ayodhya, marking its return to the Indian aviation scene.
Zooom’s revival comes after the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), renewed the flying permit of Zexus Air Services in September 2023.
Previously operating under the name Zoom Airlines, the Gurugram-based carrier had initially commenced operations in February 2017 with a CRJ aircraft. However, operational challenges led to a temporary halt in its services in 2020.
