The Indian low-cost airline would like to offer flights from New Delhi to New York. That may not sound very exciting. However, SpiceJet would like to operate the flights with different Boeing 737s.
Most recently, we reported on Air India’s plans: The airline will probably start flights to Chicago and San Francisco as early as January. Now another Indian airline is drawing attention to itself with strange plans. As onemileatatime.com learned, SpiceJet would like to start cargo and passenger flights to New York, but with different types of Boeing 737s.
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With a leased Boeing 737 to New York?
It was announced in July that SpiceJet would like to offer flights to the USA. At the time, no usable details were known about the Indian low-cost airline’s plans. Now our valued colleague from onemileatatime.com brings light into the dark. A few days ago, SpiceJet filed an application with the US Department of Transportation for foreign airlines to have scheduled and charter flights between India and the USA approved. The airline wants to start operating between Delhi and New York as soon as possible. SpiceJet cites the transport of corona protective equipment and the repatriation of people stuck in either India or the United States of America as the main reasons for taking up the flights. Due to the ban on “regular” commercial flights between India and the US, all flights are considered return flights.
In the application, which is publicly available, it becomes clear that SpiceJet would like to commence flights with short and medium-haul aircraft of the Boeing 737 type. The airline does not own any long-haul aircraft.
SpiceJet currently operates 111 aircraft, including: 4 Boeing 737-900 ER,1 Boeing
737-900, 13 Boeing 737 Max 8, 49 Boeing 737-800, 7 Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-700 Freighter, 2 Boeing 737-800 Freighter and 32 Q400, 3 type aircraft. SpiceJet’s fleet size and composition may vary time to time. SpiceJet may expand its fleet of aircraft used for US operations in the near future, including wet leases, subject to appropriate arrangements and approvals.
For its proposed U.S. operations, SpiceJet is planning to operate Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800 cargo and Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft, as listed below. SpiceJet is the current sole operator of the listed aircraft.
In addition, the exact aircraft data are listed in the application.
Subject to appropriate authorizations, it may start operations of charter flights through a wet lease arrangement at the outset and then transition to its own fleet thereafter.
The airline leased an A330-900 from HiFly some time ago. SpiceJet could use these types of aircraft again to operate the flights without stopping.
Short range forces SpiceJet to make stopovers
With the Boeing 737-700 or 737-800 from New Delhi to New York? Impossible without stops. A wet lease of further aircraft is conceivable. The direct flight distance between New Delhi and New York is over 7,300 miles, or approximately 11,750 kilometers. The Boeing 737-700 only has a range of 6,370 kilometers, the 737-800 even only 5,420 kilometers. A direct flight is therefore not possible with the aircraft applied for. A route across Northern Europe is conceivable, but this route would be difficult to implement with a stopover.
If the aircraft are well loaded, a possible flight route with a stopover in Helsinki and Reykjavik is conceivable. The distance between New Delhi and Helsinki is 5,220 kilometers. Reykjavik is another 2,200 kilometers from Helsinki before heading to New York, 4,350 kilometers away. The distance between Helsinki and New York is 6,570 kilometers. A onward flight from Helsinki to New York is therefore categorically excluded with a fully loaded Boeing 737. For the Boeing 737-800, the section from New Delhi to Helsinki already poses challenges.
Another possible route with just one stopover could be SpiceJet via Oslo. Oslo is pretty much in the middle between New Delhi and New York. The distance to both New Delhi and New York is just over 5,900 kilometers. These distances would be feasible for a Boeing 737-700 – but only if the cabins or cargo holds are not fully loaded. The Boeing 737-800 cannot be used on this route.
Conclusion on the planned flights from SpiceJet
The reasons for taking up the flights are certainly understandable. However, the airline simply lacks the right aircraft for an uncomplicated implementation of the flights requested. Without additional aircraft, the flights are difficult to carry out without two intermediate stops. The time lost compared to a direct flight would probably be between four and six hours.
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