SpiceJet Suspends Boeing 737 MAX Passenger Operations
Photographer: Dipankar Bhakta - AirTeamImages.com
SpiceJet has suspended Boeing 737-8 passenger operations, according to TravelExtra, which reported on August 28 that the Indian low-cost carrier had removed the Boeing 737 MAX from its active passenger schedules.
The report, citing a written statement from SpiceJet, attributed the decision to financial and lease constraints rather than a new safety issue with the aircraft type. No affected registrations, effective date, or timetable for the return of MAX operations were provided.
Recent Efforts to Rebuild the Fleet
The reported change follows a recent attempt to rebuild MAX operations. SpiceJet returned one Boeing 737-8 to commercial service in June. On July 23, Moneycontrol reported that a fleet database listed 11 SpiceJet aircraft in service, including nine Boeing 737s and two De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops. The airline was also preparing to introduce three Airbus A320s under six-month damp leases.
The reviewed sources did not establish whether all three A320s subsequently entered service or remained active when the MAX suspension was reported.
Four MAX Aircraft Sought for Deregistration
In July, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) posted Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorization notices concerning four SpiceJet Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
Mint reported that two Dublin-based lessors owned by ICBC Financial Leasing initiated the requests. SpiceJet said the four aircraft had been out of service for an extended period due to manufacturing issues with their engines' high-pressure turbines. The airline said deregistration would remove lease-rental costs for the grounded aircraft and would not affect operations at the time.
It remains unclear whether these four aircraft were connected to the MAX aircraft later removed from passenger schedules.
Market Share Falls
SpiceJet's domestic market share also declined in recent months, falling from 2.5% in May to 1.9% in June and reaching 1.6% in July, according to DGCA data.
The airline is also awaiting additional government-backed credit while managing ongoing financial and legal obligations.
For now, neither the reviewed TravelExtra report nor SpiceJet media materials provide a date for the Boeing 737-8's return to passenger service.
