Budget Carrier SpiceJet on Tuesday announced that it is going to start international flights to the UK from the next month. It recently became the ‘Indian Scheduled Carrier’ for both the UK and the US. The airline has been working on ways to expand its international operations and end its cash crunch as soon as possible. SpiceJet will be operating flights to the UK on an Air Bubble deal. All the flights from SpiceJet will be going to the Heathrow airport, London. These slots under the Air Bubble deal between the two countries will convert to normal slots once regular international flights resume.
SpiceJet International Flights to the UK
For the unaware, Air Bubble agreement between the two countries is a temporary agreement wherein both countries allow international flights to take place between them for a particular time.
The airline in a filing said, “SpiceJet has secured slots at London Heathrow Airport to operate flights effective September 1. This is presently under the bubble arrangement between India and UK and effective up to the end of the summer schedule, which is October 23.”
SpiceJet is already in advanced discussion with the concerned parties to secure the slots on the Heathrow airport for winter schedule as well.
SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said, “London is one of the busiest long-haul destinations from India and this is a huge milestone for SpiceJet. Providing non-stop connectivity from India to different parts of the world, which in turn strengthens our own airport hubs, is a dream that we have long cherished and this is a small step in that direction,”
As of now, the only airline flying in the route of London (UK) and India is Air India. But after the agreement, SpiceJet has become the second airline to fly in this route. With no competition other than Air India, it is the perfect opportunity for SpiceJet to make a market for itself in international charters. The airline has been planning to fly to London from quite some time. Back in 2019, SpiceJet had applied for slots which would connect Amritsar and London.
