NEW DELHI: Spot airfares have sharply risen with the full effect of SpiceJet’s 12 Boeing 737 Max grounding being felt on Thursday. While the airline claimed about 35 of its daily flights will be affected, sources say the number could be much higher. Aviation authorities say the number of flights actually cancelled may be available only on Friday.
SpiceJet sources say it has increased utilisation of its 64 planes that include Boeing 737 (not Max but new generation or NG) and turboprop Bombardier by mounting additional frequencies on them. SpiceJet’s Delhi-Kabul flight is cancelled due to Pakistan airspace closure. The B737 used on that route is now being used for domestic flights and two wet leased planes (hired with operating crew) are likely to start flying by Saturday.
Meanwhile, SpiceJet and aviation authorities, including Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), denied reports of the airline flying the B737 Max after the deadline of 4 pm on Wednesday.
