SpiceJet gets turboprop aircraft; to connect Tier II & III cities

Indias most preferred budget airline will launch its services from September 21 with the Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft,which can accommodate 78 passengers and is widely accepted as the best short-haul plane in the world.

SpiceJet had placed an order for 30 such aircraft and its chairman Maran received the first four aircraft at an impressive function held here yesterday.

The budget carrier has been strategically focusing on improving air connectivity in Tier-II and Tier-III towns,which is considered to be a large market in India and is yet to be touched by the benefits of the aviation revolution.

SpiceJet will also include routes within its existing destinations using the Q400 aircraft and will operate direct flights from Hyderabad to Goa,Madurai,Nagpur and Pune and Bangalore to Vizag.

This will be the game changing aircraft for the Indian aviation industry, Chief Executive Officer Neil Mills said.

The air carrier will also be flying on three currently unconnected routes Hyderabad-Mangalore,Hyderabad-Aurangabad and Vizag-Tirupati.

For the 30 aircraft,SpiceJet is likely to pay around $900 million.

SpiceJet plans to more than double its fleet in about three years. It currently flies 30 Boeing 737s–800/900.

The budget carrier has chosen Hyderabads Rajiv Gandhi International Airport as the base for the regional operations.

The locational advantage of Andhra Pradesh capital reduces flying time to any of the cities in the region making it the most suitable place to connect other cities especially in the South.