Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet is contemplating a move into the long-haul market, for which it
plans to acquire widebody aircraft, as stated by the company’s CEO. During his address to
industry professionals at the Aviation Festival Asia 2025 conference in Singapore, held from
February 18 to 19, 2025, Ajay Singh mentioned that the airline aims to broaden its horizons
while it continues to rebuild its financial health after facing numerous challenges in the
aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wide-body considerations
In his speech, Singh expressed that due to the unprecedented surge in air travel demand
across India since the pandemic, SpiceJet will inevitably need to consider widebody long-haul
operations, especially as its competitors are already advancing with their international long-
haul expansion strategies. “We are engaging in discussions with major manufacturers and
exploring widebody orders with them. We must be ready for this, and we are definitely pursuing
this,” Singh elaborated.
SpiceJet Competitors
Singh’s remarks come as the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers are filling their order books
with requests from other Indian airlines. In 2023, the Tata Group-owned flag carrier Air India
made significant orders for new widebody aircraft, which will encompass Boeing 777s, 787s,
and the Airbus A350-900. In 2024, privately owned IndiGo joined the surge in the long-haul
sector by placing an order for 30 Airbus A350s. Even the smaller competitor Akasa Air, despite
not yet placing orders for widebody jets, is already witnessing some success in operating
longer international routes from India.
Singh further emphasized to his audience that SpiceJet already possesses some, albeit limited,
experience in operating widebody long-haul flights. During the pandemic, the airline leased
several Airbus A330s for repatriation flights, successfully bringing Indian citizens back from
countries severely impacted by COVID-19.
The airline’s fortunes have significantly improved over the past two years. After being severely
affected by the pandemic, which drastically reduced passenger numbers, SpiceJet had
multiple aircraft repossessed by lessors and initiated negotiations with others to amend lease
agreements. Then in 2024, SpiceJet underwent several rounds of fundraising to resolve its
debts and return grounded aircraft to operational status.
Revival of the 737 Max 8
With seemingly brighter prospects ahead, the airline is now looking toward the future, seeking
ways to compete not only with its main rivals but also to meet the soaring consumer demand
for air travel within India. In late January 2025, the airline began reintroducing its previously
grounded fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft back into active service.
The fleet had been grounded for several months towards the end of 2024 due to maintenance
challenges and a lack of engineering support for the CFM LEAP-1B engines. According to the
airline, this development “marked a significant milestone in the airline’s fleet restoration and
operational enhancement efforts.” As part of its ongoing fleet restoration initiative, the airline
aims to return a total of ten grounded aircraft, including three Boeing 737 MAX planes, to
service by mid-April 2025.
Restructuring plans
The restructuring is in harmony with SpiceJet’s strategy for restoring its fleet, which has made
swift advancements since the airline settled lingering legal issues with various aircraft leasing
companies, including Export Development Canada, Engine Lease Finance Corporation,
Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, Aircastle (Ireland), Wilmington Trust SP Services
(Dublin) Limited, Shannon Engine Support Limited, and Genesis.
The reintroduction of the 737 MAX into service is regarded as a vital strategic move for the
airline, enabling it to operate in “high-demand markets” such as Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi
Arabia “without any operational constraints.” The comeback of the MAX aircraft will further
support the airline in expediting its international expansion plans as it strives to remain
competitive in light of the increasing air travel demand among India’s growing population
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