Spicejet to expand international network

[LUNN]

The Indian LCC have gained approval to serve six international destinations some of which they plan to launch this year, they include Bangkok, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kabul and Male.

I guess for HKG and CAN they will have to get wide bodies or is the 739ER sufficient?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/13043924.cms

[CathayPacific]

Originally Posted by LUNN

I guess for HKG and CAN they will have to get wide bodies or is the 739ER sufficient?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/13043924.cms

737 has the range to do HKG-India. It may be a tough route to crack for Spice though. I don't think the O&D market is large. Business travellers and affluent travellers (e.g. wealthy Indians living in HongKong visiting friends/family in India) will want to fly on reputable full-service carriers such as CX/KA and Jet, which offer high frequency service between HKG and India. Connection traffic at HKG between India and North America will be dominated by CX so that's not available to Spice as well. India is not a popular tourist destination for people in HongKong so that low yield market is not large as well.

[LUNN]

Launched Dubai in June, now starting Kabul from August 14. Spice will also lease out two 737-800 to Saudi Nas air for a few months.

[LUNN]

Delhi-Guangzhou to start from October, along with Riyadh, Male, Dhaka and Yangon, interesting.

[LUNN]

Latest is that they have applied for permission to serve Macau from November if approved. Riyadh and Guangzhou are now confirmed for October launch.