SpiceJet Wants To Be Flying 50 Boeing 737 MAX Jets Within 2 Years

Simple Flying

By Luke Bodell

Published Nov 23, 2021

An Indian-operated SpiceJet Boeing 737-800 aircraft (foreground) takes off as a British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft (background) sits on the tarmac at the international airport in Mumbai on October 1, 2009. The London-bound British Airways flight BA138 with about 250 passengers aboard made an emergency landing here as the fire alarm went off in the cockpit soon after its take off. The flight took off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 0300 hours but landed back at 0410 hours as the fire alarm went off in the cockpit, a Mumbai International Airport spokesperson said. AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)

Indian carrier SpiceJet has revealed plans to induct 50 new Boeing 737 MAX jets into its fleet within the next two years. The airline has ordered 205 MAX planes from Boeing, of which it has received 13 so far. The first MAX delivery to SpiceJet since its grounding in 2019 will be on December 10th, with three additional jets expected in the coming months.

50 MAX jets flying by 2023

SpiceJet is looking to speed up the induction of new MAX jets into its fleet, hoping to fly 50 Boeing 737 MAX planes within two years. The carrier plans to phase out its older Boeing 737NG aircraft with the newer, more-efficient MAX plane to claw back significant pandemic losses.

SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh said,

"We will induct 50 aircraft during 2022 and 2023 calendar years and 15 to 20 of them will be used to replace older aircraft in the fleet."

SpiceJet, Boeing 737 MAX, Return To Service — The airline will receive its next 737 MAX on December 10th. Photo: Boeing

SpiceJet had 13 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in its fleet at the time the jet was grounded worldwide. After grounding the plane for 32 months, the airline recently resumed 737 MAX passenger flights and is eager to take advantage of the jet's fuel efficiency.

Deliveries to restart soon

Since the MAX was grounded in March 2019, SpiceJet has yet to take any deliveries of the type. The carrier has an order for 205 737 MAXs (155 firm orders and 50 on option) and has received 13 so far. Of these 13 jets, only two are back in service while 11 remain parked. However, the airline plans to have all of its MAXs back in service within the next three weeks.

Chairman Singh added,

"Two of these aircraft are already flying and the other 11 will start flying in the next 15-20 days."

SpiceJet has a firm order for 155 737 MAXs and a further 50 on option. Photo: VishuN via Wikimedia Commons

Singh also revealed the next MAX delivery would be very soon, with a date of December 10th penciled in. This will be the first of four 737 MAXs to be delivered over the next few months.

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Restructuring at SpiceJet

SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh laid out SpiceJet's plans to spin off its cargo division into a separate entity next year. With cargo business booming over the pandemic, SpiceJet is looking at adding up to 20 freighter aircraft from Boeing - 10 narrowbody and 5-10 widebody cargo planes.

Singh said,

"The cargo business is growing very rapidly and we are looking at all opportunities to raise funds to grow this business fast quickly, and that includes selling a stake. We expect the valuation will be quite significant."

After agreeing on compensation with Boeing after the 737 MAX was grounded, SpiceJet hopes to reduce liabilities by up to $300 million over the next six months and secure capital from banks.

SpiceJet 737 MAX — SpiceJet may expand its international network using the 737 MAX. Photo: Florian Klebl via Flickr

Singh added,

"We are undertaking financial reengineering at SpiceJet. Our balance sheet will be better, we are settling our liabilities with lessors. In one way, we are cleaning up the company and launching SpiceJet 2.0 from January 2022."

The airline is also looking at expanding its international operations using the 737 MAX. Possible destinations on the cards include Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Additionally, the airline is exploring scheduled long-haul services, including Canadian and European destinations, using widebody aircraft.

Are you happy to see the Boeing 737 MAX returning to the skies? What do you think about SpiceJet expanding its international network? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.