SpiceJet eyeing more international routes, seeks aviation ministry's nod

SpiceJet, the Gurugram-based airline, has sought permission from the aviation ministry for more rights to fly to Dhaka from various Indian cities, and to operate flights on other key routes too. The airline hopes to begin services in these sectors in coming months.
 
SpiceJet is therefore, planning to induct new Boeing aircraft on more international routes to keep its expanding fleet busy. The airline in a letter to the ministry stated that it plans to operate flights to Dhaka from Chennai and Delhi with the addition of the new Boeing 737 Max. Delivery of the airplane will start in August, said an Economic Times report. Further, the airline said it will upgrade its Kolkata-Dhaka flight from a 78-seat Bombardier Q400s to a 186-seat Boeing 737.
 
“They have asked us to look at increasing India’s bilateral flying entitlements if the current quota does not have enough for them to add flights. Not just Bangladesh, they have plans for other international destinations too,” an aviation ministry official, who did not want to be named, revealed to ET. 
 
Current bilateral air traffic entitlements with Bangladesh allow each side to operate 61 services weekly. Another 18 destinations come under the Asean open sky agreement. Of the total, Indian carriers are allocated 68 services while airlines from Bangladesh are operating 50. SpiceJet did not officially offer any comment for the story. 
 
Meanwhile, another ailine, Jet Airways too is expanding its fleet, and in the direction it has added Boeing 737 Max planes. The Naresh Goyal-led airline currently has two Boeing 737 Max in its fleet.
 
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The company had taken the delivery of its maiden 737 Max aircraft (VT-JXA) out of the 225 on order from Boeing on June 19, while the second such plane was reportedly delivered to the airline last week.