While full-service carrier Kingfisher Airlines and budget airline Air Deccan are at each other’s throat, low-frill SpiceJet (SJ) is concentrating on building up on its strong points. Refraining from flying to too many destinations like Air Deccan or transforming into a legacy airline like Kingfisher or Jet Airways, SJ may even turn into profit this fiscal while other carriers are still bleeding. SJ’s Director Ajay Singh spoke to B S Arun of Deccan Herald on his company’s plans:
DH: Unlike Kingfisher and Air Deccan why is SpiceJet  keeping  a low profile and remaining  quiet?
AS: It is deliberate. We want to put our heads down and focus on our performance. Ours is the best low cost model. Our costs are low because of 25 per cent lower cost of operation than others. Our services are good, operations are on time and hence we have good image amongst the passengers.
DH: Your plans in terms of fleet strength and network ?
AS: Our current fleet strength is 11 (Boeing 737-800s) and we go up to 18 by the end of the year. For us at SJ, it has been a painless growth not seen like in Air Deccan. We expect to continue this smooth growth through the year. There will be increase in frequency to sectors where we are already flying. To keep costs low we will not  open too  many new destinations. 
DH: Your plans if the norms for flying abroad are relaxed?
AS: We are exploring that possibility. We want to fly to countries which are closeby- such as ASEAN, SAARC and Gulf sectors. We won’t fly long haul to Europe or USA.
DH: Will your market share and revenue fo up  for the fiscal ?
AS: In market share, we plan go up from 9 to 15 per cent this year. We have high growth, a load factor of 80 per cent. We want to break-even this year and start making money. For us, the next 12 months are going to be crucial where we start getting good yields and we have planned to a target a revenue of Rs 1500 crore for 2007-08. We hope to turn into profits.  We don’t need to raise money as we have already paid advance for the 10 Boeings that we have ordered (list price of more than $700 million).
DH: Other carriers are facing serious shortage of pilots and engineers. What is your position ?
AS: We are not facing pilot shortage for the last one year. We have tied up with a flying school for training of our pilots whom we recruit soon after their studies. We have got simulators for them. We don’t foresee any problems in this regard in future.
DH: Will SJ get into allied businesses like MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) of aircraft etc?
AS: We want to focus on flying. However, we would like to enter allied businesses, similar to RyanAir, such as hotel booking, insurance, car rentals etc. We are already doing some of these. We may be doing other initiatives such as co-branded credit cards, shortly.
DH: What about your focus on Bangalore ?
AS: We would love to have more services to Bangalore, as it is a good market. However, the problem is the airport has capacity constraints when it comes to landing, take-off and parking. We have applied for more parking bays and slots.