SpiceJet says first of grounded Boeing planes to restart on January 29

Mumbai: Domestic budget carrier SpiceJet on Tuesday said it is set to re-induct one of its grounded Boeing 737 Max aircraft into operations from January 29, as part of its plan to put all these planes back into service in a phased manner.

The first such plane is set to be deployed on high-demand markets such as Jeddah and Riyadh, starting Wednesday, it said.

Grounded for several months, the aircraft's return marks a significant milestone in the airline's fleet restoration and operational enhancement efforts, SpiceJet said in a statement.

Under its ongoing fleet restoration plan, the airline aims to bring ten aircraft, including four Boeing 737 MAX planes, back into service by mid-April and this is the first 737 MAX aircraft to be brought back under the exercise, it said.

In addition to this, SpiceJet said it has since October last year added 10 aircraft to its fleet, comprising three previously grounded planes and seven newly-leased aircraft.

This has enabled the airline to expand its network with over 60 new flights introduced in the last three months, further enhancing connectivity and offering passengers more travel options, SpiceJet said.

To facilitate the restoration of its Boeing MAX fleet, SpiceJet recently entered into services agreements with US-based engine MRO provider StandardAero Inc and the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for LEAP-1B engines, and CFM International, Inc.

The induction of these fuel-efficient planes will result in significant cost savings as well as higher aircraft utilization, it stated.