SpiceJet plans to restore it’s service to Saudi Arabia with re-entry of Boeing 737 Max in operation. Saudi Arabia is the second largest market for Indian travellers behind UAE and re-entry of 737 Max aircraft into service would enable SpiceJet to carry higher passenger and cargo loads to the West Asian country.
The return into service of fuel-efficient 737 Max aircraft follows the airline’s tie up with US-based maintenance repair and overhaul unit Standard Aero Inc in December
SpiceJet has seven 737 Max aircraft and these have been grounded from last September. A ₹3,000 crore capital infusion last September has enabled the airline to restore grounded aircraft and clear pending dues.
“The re-induction of our first grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is a moment of immense pride and an important milestone for SpiceJet,” airline chairman Ajay Singh said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 737 Max aircraft will be back in action for SpiceJet from Wednesday. Initially it will be flown on domestic routes. The date of relaunch of Jeddah and Riyadh flights has not been announced yet.
Under its restoration plan the airline aims to bring ten aircraft, including four Boeing 737 MAX planes, back into service by mid-April 2025. SpiceJet has over 50 aircraft in fleet. As of January 10 it was operating 28 of them.
The addition of the 737 Max aircraft will enable SpiceJet to operate to high-demand markets such as Jeddah and Riyadh without any operational restrictions, it said.
Over 25 million Indians flew overseas between January -October in 2024, data compiled by tourism ministry shows. Saudi Arabia had 11 per cent share of Indian nationals’ departures during this period.
Travel between India and Saudi Arabia is dominated by labour and pilgrimage traffic but in recent years the West Asian country has made a strong pitch to attract leisure tourists.
At present IndiGo is the largest airline operating between India and Saudi Arabia followed by Air India Express and Saudia.