Tag Archives: fleet expansion

Air India to double premium cabins on wide-body fleet

 

Air India is set to elevate luxury travel by doubling premium cabins on its wide-body aircraft and introducing a new first-class section on Airbus A350 planes within the next two to three years. The refurbishment aligns with the Tata Group’s vision for premium travel, evident since their acquisition of Air India in January 2022. Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, revealed a 2.3x revenue surge from premium seats compared to 1.6x growth in economy class.

Under Aggarwal’s leadership, Air India’s fleet has expanded significantly, with 92 aircraft added post-acquisition and the merger of Vistara and AirAsia India into Air India and AI Express, growing the total fleet to 300 aircraft. Revenue has increased tenfold from USD 1 billion in FY 2020, and routes and flights have doubled. Aggarwal described the acquisition as a transformative opportunity to scale Tata Group’s aviation business.

To compete with foreign carriers, which control 80% of India’s long-haul market, Air India is enhancing hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The group plans to operate 120 narrow-body aircraft per airline by next year, leveraging a hub-and-spoke model for transit traffic and boosting international connections.

While acknowledging challenges like a depreciating rupee, Aggarwal emphasised Air India’s partial hedge through international operations and forex ticket sales. He noted the airline’s strategic balance in pricing, highlighting the need to remain competitive without deterring demand in a price-sensitive market.

SpiceJet to unground 10 aircraft by April 2025

 

SpiceJet is set to unground 10 aircraft, including four Boeing 737 MAX planes, by mid-April 2025. This move aims to strengthen its network and operational capabilities, significantly increasing its current fleet size of 28 aircraft.

Since October 2024, SpiceJet has added 10 planes to its fleet, including three previously grounded aircraft brought back into service and seven inducted on lease. Despite some aircraft being redelivered to lessors during this period, the airline’s efforts have bolstered its fleet expansion and service capabilities.

Over the past three months, SpiceJet’s network expansion strategy has added more than 60 new flights, enhancing connectivity and service options for passengers.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, stated, “Our plan to bring 10 aircraft back into service by mid-April reflects SpiceJet’s unwavering commitment to growth and operational excellence. We remain focused on providing reliable and affordable air travel to millions of Indians.”

In a key development, SpiceJet signed an agreement with StandardAero Inc., a US-based engine MRO, for restoring its grounded MAX fleet. This agreement builds on successful partnerships with CFM International, Inc., the OEM for LEAP-1B engines, and a key lessor, enabling the return of three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to service.

Over the past two months, SpiceJet has resolved disputes with several major lessors and partners, including Export Development Canada, Engine Lease Finance Corporation, and Aircastle (Ireland). These efforts underscore the airline’s commitment to operational stability and growth.

SpiceJet plans revival with grounded fleet and new deliveries

 

Budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd. has announced plans to operationalise 30 grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft within the next 12-15 months, addressing issues related to payment defaults and component shortages. The airline also aims to restart delivery talks with Boeing for pending aircraft, part of a 2017 order for 200 B737 MAX planes.

Speaking at the company’s annual general meeting, Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, highlighted the airline’s target of growing its fleet to 100 aircraft by the end of 2026, up from the current 28 operational planes. Singh emphasised the need for more airlines in India to prevent the aviation market from becoming a duopoly dominated by IndiGo and Air India.

Experts have welcomed the announcement. Sanjay Lazar, CEO, Avialaz Consultants, called it a bold step in India’s constrained aviation market. He noted that ungrounding planes and accelerating Boeing deliveries could expand SpiceJet’s capacity, increase flight frequencies, and lower airfares in demand-heavy sectors. Lazar also stressed the importance of improving on-time performance (OTP) and passenger services to rebuild consumer trust.

Earlier this year, SpiceJet raised INR 3,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement to fund its revival plans. The airline operates 147 daily flights across 38 domestic and 3 international destinations, with a mixed fleet of Boeing, Q400, and wet-leased aircraft. Three Boeing 737 MAX planes are expected to rejoin its fleet by April 2025, under an agreement with US-based StandardAero Inc.

Saudia Group excels in global OTP rankings

 

Saudia Group has achieved On-Time Performance (OTP) results for November 2024, as reported by Cirium, a leading aviation tracking site. Saudia, the national carrier, ranked first globally, with an on-time arrival rate of 89.85% across over 16,300 flights. This marks its third top ranking in 2024, following first-place positions in June and July, highlighting the efficiency of its operations. Meanwhile, flyadeal, a fast-growing low-cost carrier, achieved an OTP of 90.48%, securing second place globally in the low-cost airline category for the second month in a row.

His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, emphasised the importance of safe and punctual operations in building customer confidence. He credited these results to the dedicated efforts of the group’s staff and the implementation of Saudia’s transformation program, “Shine.” The program focuses on enhancing guest experience, operational efficiency, and service quality. This commitment to excellence has propelled Saudia and flyadeal to industry-leading positions.

Jeremy Bowen, CEO, Cirium, praised Saudia for its exceptional performance, calling its consistent rankings a testament to the operational success of the group. He highlighted Saudia Group’s ability to set industry benchmarks while expanding its influence globally. Both Saudia and flyadeal continue to demonstrate their focus on excellence, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals of enhancing connectivity and global reach.

Looking ahead, Saudia Group plans to add 130 new aircraft to its fleet, doubling its seating capacity and expanding its destinations. Currently, Saudia operates 144 aircraft, connecting over 100 destinations worldwide, while flyadeal’s fleet of 36 Airbus A320s serves nearly 30 destinations. With a robust expansion strategy, both airlines aim to further strengthen their operational capabilities and enhance their global footprint.

Jazeera Airways acquires 6 Airbus A320

 

Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s leading low-cost carrier, has announced the acquisition of six Airbus A320 CEO aircraft, transitioning them from leased to owned status. This strategic move aims to reduce unit costs, enhance operational efficiency, and mitigate ongoing supply chain disruptions in the aviation sector. As the airline approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, this decision underscores its commitment to long-term growth and resilience.

The acquisition aligns with Jazeera’s broader transformation strategy, which includes expanding its route network, upgrading in-flight services, and integrating advanced technologies to elevate the passenger experience. Chairman Marwan Boodai emphasised the importance of balancing leased and owned aircraft to strengthen operational resilience and cost efficiency. He stated, “This acquisition highlights our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and delivering value to customers and shareholders alike.”

Jazeera Airways’ current fleet of 24 aircraft serves over 60 destinations across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe. With deliveries from its order of 26 Airbus A320 NEO and A321 NEO aircraft beginning in 2026, the airline is poised to expand its network footprint and optimise costs across key markets. These steps reflect Jazeera’s ambition to remain a competitive and sustainable regional leader.

As it evolves, Jazeera continues to prioritise passenger satisfaction and operational excellence. By owning more of its fleet, the airline is positioning itself for sustained growth in a dynamic aviation landscape while maintaining its reputation for safety and reliability.

Air India to lease 12 more aircraft for route expansion in 2023

Air India will lease six Airbus A320neo narrow body aircraft and six Boeing B777-300 ER widebody aircraft to further augment its existing fleet. These aircraft are expected to be inducted in the first half of 2023 and will be deployed on Air India’s short, medium and long-haul international routes. The decision to lease twelve aircraft is in addition to the thirty leased earlier this year including twenty one Airbus A320, four Airbus A321 and five Boeing B777-200LR widebody aircraft.

The Airbus A320neo will be operated on the airline’s domestic/short-to-medium haul international routes. Air India’s B777-300 ER will have four-class configuration of First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy, and will be deployed to connect Indian metro cities with even more international destinations.

The airline’s aggressive expansion plan has already witnessed 19 long-grounded aircraft returning to the skies with 9 more to follow even as the airline has stepped up lease of narrow and wide-body aircraft. As part of the expansion, Air India has raised the frequency of flights between key cities on the domestic sector and has also announced direct flights between Indian cities and key global destinations like Doha, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Birmingham. Further, Air India is set to commence direct flights from Delhi to key European cities like Milan, Vienna and Copenhagen, and from Mumbai to New York, Paris and Frankfurt.

Commenting on the lease of the aircraft, Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director, Air India, said, “Growing our network is an essential part of Air India’s Vihaan.AI transformational journey and we remain committed to increasing connectivity and frequency of flights both domestically and internationally. These additional aircraft leases will support our near term growth even as we finalise plans to refresh and significantly grow our long-term fleet.”