SpiceJet has acquired slots at London Heathrow so that the low cost carrier can operate flights to the English airport from September 1st. Competitor Air India will no longer be the only Indian airline flying to Heathrow.
The slots that SpiceJet has now obtained are valid until the start of the winter season, which is in late October, and are intended for repatriation flights in the so-called travel bubble between India and the United Kingdom. Negotiations are still ongoing for winter season slots. In the near future SpiceJet wants to launch regular scheduled flights to the united Kingdom.
The airline had not confirmed which aircraft will be used for the flights to London, but it will probably be HiFly’s wetleased Airbus A330-900. That aircraft also came to Amsterdam on behalf of SpiceJet for a repatriation flight to India on Saturday, operating the very first intercontinental flight for the airline.
The budget airline currently only has short- and medium-haul aircraft, but now has serious longhaul ambitions. This should fill the gap it left under Jet Airways. London would then become the first regular longhaul destination.