SpiceJet is planning to start two new international services from Northeast India under the Indian government’s subsidized regional connectivity scheme. The airline will connect Agartala, Tripura with Chattogram in Bangladesh, and Imphal, Manipur with Mandalay in Myanmar. These new connections are expected to be operational by June end.
The flights are assigned under UDAN schedule, under which airlines operate flights through government subsidies to promote regional services. SpiceJet is also planning to launch and restart several other domestic and international flights under the regional connectivity scheme.
“The airline also plans to launch a new UDAN flight on Kolkata-Tezpur-Kolkata sector and restart Kolkata-Gwalior-Kolkata and Jammu-Gwalior-Jammu UDAN flights. In addition, SpiceJet will launch flights on Kolkata-Agartala-Kolkata and Kolkata-Imphal-Kolkata sectors and restart flights on Kolkata-Chattogram-Kolkata sector,” the airline said in a statement.
This latest route expansion comes on the backdrop of airline’s plans to bring back 25 grounded aircraft back in service. By June 15, the airline plans to bring back four aircraft, two B737s and two Bombardier Dash-8-Q400 regional aircraft.
Even though the airline is going through a financial turmoil it celebrated its 18th anniversary with discount ticket offers for passengers and offering salary hike for pilots.