Budget carrier SpiceJet on Friday raised the bar of customer comfort and convenience with the launch of smart mobile check in facility at GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited and outlined plans to tap the growing opportunities in regional connectivity where the Government is seeking to provide a major push.

Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Civil Aviation Minister, inaugurated the facility and expressed that the country’s civil aviation sector would continue to sustain the growth witnessed in the recent times.

Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet Ltd, said, “The airline has managed to turn around from being a sinking airliner after taking it over in January 2015. Over the past 11-12 months, it has consistently registered occupancy levels of over 92 per cent that only reflects how it is on growth path.”

Transfer dispute

Refraining to comment on the Delhi High Court order wherein the airliner was asked to deposit Rs 580 crore in a transfer dispute between Kalanithi Maran and Spicejet, Ajay Singh, said, “The matter is sub-judice. At this point it would not be appropriate to comment on the development. We will have to wait for the order before we can comment on the matter.”

The court on Friday sent the share transfer dispute between Kalanithi Maran and SpiceJet to arbitration relating to the transfer of 18 crore warrants by SpiceJet to its former promoter Maran.

“India has been growing at a fast rate over the past few years and we expect the sector to continue the growth. This will mean new fleet acquisition and we are in talks with both Airbus and Boeing. In addition, we expect to add three more aircraft to the 14 aircraft fleet in couple of months to strengthen the regional connectivity,” he said.

Currently, SpiceJet connects its network with a fleet of 26 Boeing 737NG and 14 Bombardier Q-400s.

Smart check-in

The Smart Check-in facility uses Bluetooth Low Energy and Near Field Communication technologies and enables customers who have booked their tickets through the SpiceJet Mobile App to check in without any hassle. The service has been initially introduced at Hyderabad Airport and will soon be available in all airports supporting e-boarding facility.

SGK Kishore, CEO, GHIAL, said, “As an airport operator, we encourage and explore newer ways to improve passenger processing. We are the first Indian airport to implement end-to-end E-boarding process and soon coming with other digital interfaces for passengers. Our focus on digitisation at the airport is in line with the Prime Minister’s dream of Digital India.”

“We are also working on a solution, where we may be able to do away with stamping of a cabin bag,” he said.

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