SpiceJet is allowed to operate flights from India to the United States. The Indian budget company has announced this in a stock exchange notification. The permission finally allows a competitor of Air India to operate flights from India to the United States.
In the stock market notification, SpiceJet reports that the airline is designated in the Air Services Agreement between the governments of India and the United States to operate scheduled services between the two countries.
The designation does not mean that SpcieJet can commence long-haul flights with immediate effect. According to CEO Ajay Singh, it means that the airline can plan its international expansion much better.
One of the things that SpiceJet has to look into is the fleet. The company’s current Boeing 737s and Bombardier Q400s are not suitable for long-haul flights. According to the Times of India, SpiceJet is therefore considering leasing widebody Airbus A330neos. The company would also like to purchase Boeing 747 Freighters for intercontinental freight operations.
Since Jet Airways’ bankruptcy, state-owned Air India is the only Indian airline that operates intercontinental passenger flights. IndiGo, the largest airline in the country, had plans for flights to Europe before the corona crisis.