NEW DELHI: Two years after one of its plane hit a buffalo at Surat airport runway forcing the airline to shut down its Delhi-Surat operations, India’s leading low-cost carrier SpiceJet on Thursday said it has decided to relaunch its services on Delhi - Surat route and will operate two flights daily, effective from March 26.
SpiceJet had in November, 2014 closed down its Surat operations after its aircraft was hit by the buffalo during the take off at the runway there. The Delhi-bound flight had sustained major damages due to the buffalo hit incident.
In a statement, SpiceJet said that the bookings for the routes have been opened.
SpiceJet said it is offering an all-inclusive introductory promotional fare starting at Rs 2,257 for travel to Delhi from Surat and Rs 2,299 for travel to Surat from Delhi for a limited period.
“With regional connectivity as the macro theme, the airline has been rendering constant focus on the agenda while undertaking network expansions. The new flight is a part of SpiceJet’s enhanced summer schedule and will further augment its connectivity in the domestic sector,” the airline said.
In one of the biggest aircraft order by an Indian carrier, India’s fourth largest carrier SpiceJet on Friday announced that it will buy up to 205 Boeing planes worth $22 billion (Rs 1.5 lakh crore).
SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh, who has to his credit bringing back the carrier that was on the verge of closure in December 2014, on January 13 announced firming up plane orders for 155 Boeing 737-8 Max and 50 purchase rights for wide body long haul planes like Boeing 787 Dreamliners and the narrow-bodied Boeing 737s.
SpiceJet deal is one of the largest deals in Indian aviation and the largest for SpiceJet.
SpiceJet has a fleet size of 40 aircraft, of which 22 are narrow-bodied Boeing 737-800 and of Bombardiers and turboprops, besides 40 Boeing 737-MAX on order.
India’s aviation sector is witnessing over 20 per cent growth since past four years and has become one of the fastest growing market globally attracting the attention of stakeholders globally, mainly the plane makers, for whom India now is a crucial market.