SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International) says it will lease in six additional aircraft this month - four B737 NextGens and two more A319-100s - to cover demand during the coming winter season.

"With this enhancement we have significantly growing our capacity by 16%. Our new winter flight schedule adds considerable depth to our existing operations to cater to the peak demand while enhancing connectivity and boosting customer value," Shilpa Bhatia, senior vice-president and head (sales & distribution), said in a statement.

According to its latest timetable, the LCC will, this winter, operate a total of 291 daily flights, up from the current 250 daily flights.

Currently, SpiceJet operates one A319 (leased from BH Air - Balkan Holidays Air (8H, Sofia)), nineteen B737-800s (three of which are leased from Travel Service Airlines (Prague Václav Havel)), four B737-900(ER)s, and fourteen DHC-8-400s.

In line with its longterm growth plans, the airline is reportedly in advanced talks with global aircraft manufacturers for an aircraft order that could total over 200 aircraft. Airline CEO Ajay Singh told The Wall Street Journal that talks with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Washington National) are for between 100 and 150 narrowbody jets (either A320s or B737s) while those with ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac), Bombardier Aerospace (BBA, Montréal Trudeau), and Embraer (EMB, São José dos Campos U.E. Stumpf International) pertain to 100 regional aircraft.

Should all go according to plan, an order may be placed by the end of March of next year, he added.