SpiceJet plans to fly new overseas destinations with Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes

SpiceJet plans to fly to new international destinations as well as provide free internet onboard its more fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes, according to the airline.

The no-frills airline, which has inducted its first 189-seater B 737 MAX 8 aircraft, Friday said the plane can fly non-stop to Singapore, Doha (Qatar), Kuwait, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Tehran (Iran), Salalah (Oman) and Kunming (China), among other destinations, from various Indian airports.

"With a one-stop, the aircraft can easily fly up to Finland, Norway, Morocco, London and Amsterdam," the airline said.

SpiceJet, which has made a turnaround after being on the verge of collapse in 2014, placed an order for up to 205 B 737 MAX 8 planes last year and has inducted the first one into its fleet.

The aircraft is equipped with Satcom that would enable the airline to provide internet on board services once the requisite approvals are in place.

SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said the airline plans to give complimentary internet onboard the MAX flights and the details are being worked out.

According to him, there would be proper broad band internet onboard and that a basic package can be complimentary.

B 737 MAX planes burn up to 14 per cent less fuel than older 737 planes. "Lower cost and lesser days out of service results in up to USD 4 million savings," the airline said in a statement.

SpiceJet plans to use the 737 MAX to expand and standardise its fleet while focusing on increasing their international and regional presence. "Delhi-Hong Kong, which would be SpiceJet's eighth international destination, will be exclusively serviced by the 737 MAX," it said.

Singh said the new planes would enable it to open new routes as well as reduce fuel and engineering costs, and emissions.

"The 737 MAX will dramatically reduce noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Passengers will benefit from a large number of premium seats and, for the first time in India, broadband internet on board," he said here.

The aircraft can fly up to around 19 per cent more than 737-800. SpiceJet's first B 737 MAX 8 plane has been named 'King Chilli'.

"We can look at all destinations. We will see which routes make money and we will fly there..."We will pursue all options, including Iran," Singh said on the sidelines of an event here to mark the induction of first Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane.

He was responding to a query on whether the airline would pursue the option of flying to Iran.

In 2017, SpiceJet inked a deal worth about USD 22 billion with Boeing to purchase up to 205 aircraft.

At the event, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said this order enabled Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he went to the US and had the first meeting with President Donald Trump "to tell President Trump that we have created more jobs by this order than the jobs that may have been taken away by the outsourcing of IT sector."