Fleet development
SpiceJet placed its first firm order for 20 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800s in March 2005, with deliveries scheduled up to 2010.[7] In November 2010, the airline ordered 30 Boeing 737-800s.[71] On 9 December 2010, Bombardier Aerospace announced that SpiceJet had placed a firm order for fifteen Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners with options for another fifteen. SpiceJet used its fleet of Q400s for short-haul operations.[72]
In March 2014, the airline signed a US$4.4 billion deal with Boeing for the procurement of 42 737 MAX 8 aircraft.[73] In 2015, SpiceJet was in talks with both Boeing and Airbus for a possible order of more than 100 single aisle aircraft, either Airbus A320neo or the Boeing 737 MAX with the same being confirmed by managing director, Ajay Singh, in a conference in Dubai.[74]
In January 2017, the airline placed a firm order for 100 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and revealed itself as the airline behind the 13 MAX 8 aircraft previously attributed to an unidentified customer, taking its total order to 155 MAX 8 aircraft with purchase rights for 50 additional MAX 8 and wide-body aircraft.[75] The carrier planned to grow its operational fleet to 200 airplanes and expand regionally with the new 737 MAX family of airplanes.[76] In June 2017, the airline signed a letter of intent with Bombardier to purchase up to 50 Q400 aircraft for catering to growth in passenger traffic arising from its participation in the Indian government's UDAN regional connectivity scheme.[77]
In 2019, SpiceJet announced plans to induct 16 Boeing 737-800 NG to fulfil local and international demands due to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet.[78] In May 2020, when Jet Airways ceased operations, the airline placed orders for six additional Boeing 737-800 NG and five Bombardier Q400 to cover the shortage.[79] In June 2023, SpiceJet announced plans to induct 10 Boeing 737 aircraft of which five would be 737 MAX aircraft to cater to the surge in passenger demand.[80]
In 2019, SpiceJet had a fleet size of 74 aircraft and had progressively inducted more aircraft. In 2020, the airline had a fleet of 74 Boeing 737, 26 Bombardier Q-400s, 11 B737 MAX & Bombardier Q-400 freighters.[55]
As of June 2024, of the 64 airlines of the fleet, 36 were grounded and of the 28 airworthy aircraft, fewer was being deployed for operations.[30]
As of September 2024, due to financial constraints and legal reasons, the airline operates 20 aircraft while the others remain grounded.[27] The airline revealed that it has around 30 aircraft grounded which is to return to the air soon and it also plans to have a 100-aircraft fleet by 2026. The airline revealed that it has enough slots, international traffic rights, pilots and crew, as well as the maintenance infrastructure for such an expansion. The airline could not receive new aircraft post-COVID like other Indian airlines. By March 2025, the airline will have a fleet of 40 and then add another 40 in the next year. It also plans for short term wet leases for extended operations during high-demand seasons. In fact, SpiceJet will induct 8 aircraft on lease in 2024-end.[28]
As per reports on 8 October 2024, SpiceJet will induct seven aircraft on lease by 15 November. The deal for the lease has been signed while the first two aircraft have arrived in India and shall be inducted soon. The airline also said that three grounded aircraft will restart operations in November end and a total of seven will be ungrounded by year-end. The entire fleet is expected to be ungrounded within 18–24 months and inr 4000000000 (from the qualified institutional placement (QIP) secured recently) is to be invested for spares, maintenance and engineering of the grounded fleet. The airline expects to have a 100-aircraft fleet by 2026.[30][81]
As of 31 December 2024, the airline has 34 Boeing 737 jets (including 13 B737 MAX), 24 Q400 and 6 wet-leased aircraft of which 28 are operational. In 2025, the carrier plans to unground 30 aircraft and negotiate to restart deliveries of the 200 B737 MAX aircraft ordered in 2017. Spicejet also signed an agreement with US-based MRO company, StandardAero Inc. to support the ungrounding of the 737 MAX fleet, 3 of which are to be operationalised by April 2025.[82]
As of 10 January 2025, the airline had a 62-aircraft fleet of which, 20 Boeing 737 (including leased aircraft), 2 Airbus A320 (on lease) and 6 DHC-8 Dash 8 were operational.[83]
By April 2025, all ten of the aircraft planned for induction since October 2024 was completed and this included seven aircraft on lease. The carrier planned to double its fleet by the next year.[83] In September 2025, the airline signed an agreement to lease eight additional aircraft besides the two earlier agreements to lease ten aircraft. The ten to-be-leased aircraft are expected to be inducted from October onwards.[84] On 10 and 11 October, the airline inducted an Airbus A340 and two Boeing 737 aircraft of the total 20 aircraft that will be acquired on damp lease for until November. By mid-December, four additional grounded jets will also be revived.[85]
