Indian budget carrier SpiceJet considers wide-body aircraft

Indian budget carrier SpiceJet is considering expanding its fleet by adding widebody aircraft, though its immediate priority is to reactivate about 30 grounded planes to increase capacity as it awaits new Boeing 737-8 deliveries.

Ajay Singh, the airline’s chairman and managing director, mentioned that while the airline is currently focused on restoring its operations, it is open to the possibility of acquiring widebody aircraft in the future to support long-haul flights. This consideration comes as the airline seeks to rebuild its capacity and navigate its financial hurdles.

Speaking at the Aviation Festival Asia 2025 in Singapore, Singh noted that SpiceJet will eventually need to explore widebody aircraft to meet the growing demand for long-haul services in India. "We are in talks with major manufacturers and are considering placing orders for widebody aircraft to be ready for future needs," he added.

This statement follows a trend of widebody aircraft orders from Indian airlines. In 2023, Air India made significant orders for new widebody planes, including the 777, 787, and A350 from Boeing and Airbus. A year later, IndiGo, another budget airline, also ordered 30 A350s, marking its entry into long-haul operations.

Singh highlighted that although SpiceJet primarily operates 737 aircraft, it has gained experience in long-haul operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it wet-leased widebody planes for repatriation and charter flights. "Once our operations stabilize, we certainly plan to explore this segment further," he concluded, without providing additional details.