IndiGo & SpiceJet Eye Wet Leasing A330s To Launch London Flights
Low-cost leaders IndiGo and SpiceJet are looking to wet lease widebody aircraft to fly to Europe. According to sources at the Economic Times, both carriers are looking to lease A330s to fly to London. SpiceJet might be the first to start such flights, with reports saying it has already leased one Oman Air A330 along with the airline’s Heathrow slot. So, why have the two low-cost airlines decided to go long-haul at this time?
Why now?
Both IndiGo and SpiceJet have toyed with the idea of flying to Europe before, using either widebody aircraft or stopovers. However, neither airline has decided to bite the bullet and break from its low-cost roots. It seems the current pandemic has changed their minds, with both airlines now aggressively considering long-haul plans.
There are a few reasons as to why both airlines are pursuing European flight now, especially those to London. Vande Bharat, India’s repatriation mission, has opened up new potential routes for airlines. However, one destination that continues to be underserved, both before and during the pandemic, is London.
Since the beginning of Vande Bharat flights in May, Air India has struggled to keep up with the demand from London, adding new flights to every phase of the operation. Since May, the carrier has flown over 70 flights to London, with more scheduled.
It’s become clear that London, and other European destinations, have plenty of demand from India. The long-haul, international market is still recovering from the collapse of Jet Airways a year ago, which has left room for direct flights from India. With British Airways and Virgin Atlantic unable to fly to India, and the lucrative fall season coming up, do IndiGo and SpiceJet have a chance to gain market share?
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