Indian passengers can expect to surf data and make calls on board from next month, as SpiceJet today said that they will become the first airline to offer wifi on board, as their new Boeing 737 Max is fitted with systems to make it possible.
“We have also selected a service provider and as soon as government approvals come passengers will be able to use wifi on board, most probably from next month,” SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh said.
SpiceJet’s aircraft are fitted with Satcom that will enable the airline to offer internet on board.
Singh added that the airline is also going to provide wifi ‘complimentary’ for their passengers.
“There are two models of charging wifi on board. One is to fund the cost of it internally and the other is to charge consumers. We are discussing to provide it complimentary and fund its cost through advertisement,” Singh further said.
Singh was speaking today at the launch ceremony to induct its first Boeing 737 MAX into its fleet. SpiceJet is the second carrier to have inducted Boeing 737 MAX into its fleet after Jet Airways, which currently has five of these aircraft in its fleet.
Singh also said that the airline will induct about 9 more aircraft in its fleet by the end of December – two more will come by the end of this month.
This new aircraft will allow SpiceJet to also launch direct flights to Hong Kong and Eastern Europe destinations.
“This aircraft can provider a longer non-stop range of up to 6 hours 48 minutes, which gives the airline longer flying range to launch international flights,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia-Pacific & India Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Singh also said that fares in the domestic market have firmed up due to the festive season and that needs to happen, if the airlines want to recover their cost of operations.
“Fares currently are not sustainable and airlines will have raise fares to meet cost of operations and remain profitable. There is a demand in the Indian market and raising fares will not impact that demand,” Singh said.
He added that the fares are low because airlines are adding flights on newer routes and fares are initially kept low to attract passengers on those routes. “We have been able to maintain our profitability and would be maintain it too. There is no reason for us to moderate capacity addition plans,” he said.
