SpiceJet To Add Four Q400 To Its Fleet Focusing North-East

India’s fourth largest airline, SpiceJet, has decided to add four Bombardier turboprop aircraft, Q400, to its fleet with a focus to get more North-eastern states on its network and also to meet the growing passenger demands during the upcoming festive season.

A Q400 aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers and currently, the low cost carrier operates with 28 Boeing 737 and 14 Bombardier Q400 aircrafts with 298 daily flights.

Shilpa Bhatia, senior vice-president, commercial of SpiceJet, said, “Enhancing the country’s regional connectivity has always been a prime focus for SpiceJet. And with the new aviation policy in place, there is an added encouragement to enter the underserved markets.”

The airline intends to penetrate the underserved markets within its domestic network and thereby aims to enhance regional connectivity.

“North-East, despite being a crucial tourist locale, has been deprived of good air connectivity. Hence, our new schedule lays special attention on this region, connecting the major hub-points of the seven sister states. And we look forward to further strengthen our presence in this market in the near future,” she added.

From October 4, the budget airline will operate new flights on sectors like Kolkata-Silchar-Guwahati, Kolkata-Aizawl-Guwahati and Kolkata-Gorakhpur-Delhi.

Kolkata-Visakhapatnam-Kolkata flight will be effective from November 1.

The new schedule will also include additional frequencies with a direct flight on its existing routes of Kolkata-Bagdogra and Kolkata-Guwahati.

Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his gratitude to the SpiceJet and saying, “Your decision to enhance air connectivity between North East and other parts of the country will serve as a fillip to the tourism potential of Assam and other North Eastern States”.

SpiceJet has been registering more than 90 per cent passenger load factor (PLF) for 15 consecutive months, which is the highest as per the industry standards.