Summary
- SpiceJet secures flight rights for Hajj operations from seven cities in India, anticipating larger demand in 2024.
- The airline has previous experience with special Hajj flights, generating over $40 million in revenue last 12 months.
- SpiceJet plans to expand its network and increase fleet size in 2024, following recent funding of over $100 million.
Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet is already planning ahead for 2024 and has managed to bag rights to operate special Hajj flights from several cities within the country. The carrier recently raised significant money for fleet and network growth and plans to supply several latest scheduled routes in the approaching months.
2024 Hajj flights
While the Hajj pilgrimage continues to be just a few months away, budget carrier SpiceJet is already planning special flights around that point. The carrier has revealed that it has secured flight rights for Hajj operations from seven cities within the country: Srinagar, Gaya, Guwahati, Bhopal, Indore, Aurangabad, and Vijayawada.
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Flights to Medina will kick off the primary phase of Hajj operations on May 9. SpiceJet is anticipating a fair larger demand for Hajj flights in 2024 and is hoping to generate significant revenue from it. Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, commented,
Previous Hajj operations
SpiceJet is not any stranger to special Hajj operations. It has been carrying out such flights for several years and sometimes adds more planes on damp leases for this purpose. Last 12 months, the carrier wet-leased two Airbus A340 aircraft to satisfy seasonal Hajj demand.
It operated these flights from five Indian cities in 2023 – Bhopal, Gaya, Vijayawada, Aurangabad, and Srinagar – and generated a bit over $40 million from these flights. This 12 months, it expects to make much more.
Photo: BoeingMan777 | Shutterstock
After all, other Indian airlines will even likely operate Hajj flights in addition to carriers from Saudi Arabia. Airlines are allocated a quota of Hajj flights yearly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The Central Hajj Committee of India also takes care to make sure all of the vital arrangements yearly for a seamless traveling experience for the pilgrims.
Growth mode
Other than these seasonal flights, SpiceJet is gearing up for a busy 2024 because it plans to expand its network and increase its fleet size. The airline recently received greater than $100 million in funding, mostly through allotment of securities. Singh said that the cash will likely be used judiciously in order that the airline can cover lost ground and get its business back to where it was just a few years ago.
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SpiceJet To Connect Recent Ayodhya Airport With 8 Destinations
The airline will start these services in February.
SpiceJet has steadily increased its presence on tier 2 and three routes in India, where there is relatively less competition in comparison with among the busy trunk routes. It recently began flights to the newly opened airport in Ayodhya from eight cities and in addition announced its plans to operate flights to the Lakshadweep Islands within the Indian Ocean just off the coast of Kerala.
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