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SpiceJet, India’s most preferred low fare airline, announced the launch of its Dubai operations with daily flights connecting the shopping hub of the Middle East to Delhi and Mumbai as part of the carrier’s continuing strategic expansion into international markets.
Addressing a press conference on the day SpiceJet’s new generation Boeing 737-800s took off its debut flights from Dubai’s Terminal 1 to Delhi and Mumbai, senior officials of the airline said they were working on opening up more new routes to offer a wider choice of flights to customers.
“Opening up Dubai is a milestone for us as it will offer us an opportunity to serve the large Indian and Western expatriate community along with the UAE citizens with an affordable flying option,” said SpiceJet Chief Executive Officer Neil Mills.
Mills said Dubai is a significant addition to its portfolio of destinations and complements the airline’s strategy to connect more Asian points to SpiceJet routes. “Dubai is a key destination and connecting to this bustling cosmopolitan city will also add more value to our global prospects as the emirate’s busy airport is a corridor to Europe and Asia for global passengers,” he said.
SpiceJet currently operates in two international routes – Delhi-Kathmandu and Chennai-Colombo and Dubai is the third global destination of the airline. In the Indian domestic market, SpiceJet connects 34 points with a fleet of 42 aircraft flying over 40,000 passengers a day.
Mr. Salah Sharaf, Chairman of Sharaf Travel, General Sales Agent of SpiceJet in the UAE said: “We are delighted that SpiceJet has chosen Dubai as their 3rd international destination. We offer our congratulations to Spicejet. We are very proud to be associated with the quality airline which has renowned reputation for its customer satisfaction and punctuality, we have no doubt that SpiceJet will spice up our market and win over support of traveling public."
Affordable Pricing
Mills said that as a low fare airline, SpiceJet’s pricing philosophy is to ensure affordable flight fares to its passengers. “Our endeavor would be to offer and maintain a competitive and affordable price structure throughout the year to make SpiceJet a preferred carrier for inbound and outbound passengers.”
Bookings for SpiceJet had kicked off earlier this month with an introductory inaugural fare starting from AED 377 excluding taxes. The airline has partnered with Dubai-based Sharaf Travel for bookings and ever since the opening of bookings; SpiceJet has received robust response to its offer.
New destinations, facilitation
SpiceJet is working on new destinations in India as well as in the GCC as the carrier has set its sights on expanding its coverage in phases. “Some of the destinations we are looking to connect with Dubai at the Indian end are Kochi, Chennai and Hyderabad while in the Gulf we have Saudi Arabia as new point on our radar,” Mills said.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
