New Delhi: Private airline SpiceJet will resume the operation of Boeing 737 Max flights by September-end.
The decision came after SpiceJet signed a commercial settlement on Monday with CDB Leasing Co. Ltd, a globally recognized financial leasing company that provides leasing services for transportation, including aviation services. The settlement will ensure Boeing 737 Max returns to the runway.
“The airline expects to start operations of Max aircraft around the end of September 2021, subject to regulatory approvals,” SpiceJet said in a statement.
The airline’s settlement makes SpiceJet the only Indian airline to possess 13 fleets of the 737 Max aircraft.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently granted safety permissions for resuming the Boeing 737 operations in India, after suspending the operations citing two fatal crashes in March 2019.
The DGCA said, “This rescission enables operation of Boeing Company Model 737-8 and Boeing Company Model 737-9 airplanes only upon satisfaction of applicable requirements for service returns.”
Boeing said in a statement, “The DGCA’s decision is an important milestone toward safely returning the 737 MAX to service in India. Boeing continues to work with regulators and our customers to return the airplane to service worldwide.”
Meanwhile, SpiceJet’s Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said: “I am delighted to share that our 737 MAXs will be back in the air soon. As India emerges from Covid-19 and air traffic picks up again, the MAX aircraft will play a major role in our future expansion.”
“With a better and a more efficient fleet back in operation, we expect a significant reduction in our operating costs to improve our bottom line,” he added.
(Avya Mathur)