SpiceJet examining taking over Jet's widebody planes

Indian budget airline SpiceJet Ltd is examining the prospect of taking over widebody jets previously operated by Jet Airways Ltd, but initial studies show they need significant maintenance work, its chairman said on Saturday.

SpiceJet, which operates narrowbody and turboprop planes, does not have firm plans to become a widebody operator with longer-range flights in the wake of Jet's collapse in April, SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh said.

"Certainly a gap has been created and there seems to be an opportunity but it is also a business that we don't know very much about. A higher risk business," he told Reuters on the sidelines of an airline industry conference in Seoul.

"We are exploring it. We'll see. If it looks like it is significantly profitable we can do it."

SpiceJet took over the leases of 25 Boeing Co 737 jets previously operated by Jet in April and May, he said.