SpiceJet to revamp fleet, may buy 100-150 planes


Exactly a year after saving it from near-certain closure, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh is all set to revamp the airline by possibly going in for a complete change of fleet. Singh says he will place a 'large' aircraft order, indicating anywhere from 100 to 150 planes, this fiscal. Both Airbus and Boeing have sent their proposals for the A-320 new engine option or neo and the B-737 Max, respectively.
Since Singh co-founded SpiceJet in 2005, the low-cost carrier (LCC) has been operating with Boeing 737s as the mainstay and years later inducted Bombardier Q-400 as its regional jet. "Today we are a relatively small airline and can therefore have a mixed fleet. (SpiceJet has 41planes — 14 Q-400 and a mix of 25 B-737s and two leased A-320s). When we place a large aircraft order, we will have either an all 320 neo or 737 Max fleet. If Airbus is able to make a better offer than Boeing, I will change my fleet to all A-320s and if Boeing makes a better deal, I will have all B-737s," Singh told TOIon Monday.


Similarly for the regional jets, Singh is talking to the three big players — ATR, Bombardier and Embraer. 

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