SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International) has wet leased another B737-800 from Corendon Airlines (XC, Antalya), with 9H-TJC (msn 38012) ferrying in from Antalya on February 15 and commencing passenger operations for SpiceJet on February 17.
9H-TJC is the fourth B737-800 operated by Corendon Airlines or its Malta-based subsidiary, Corendon Airlines Europe (XR, Malta International), now at SpiceJet on an wet lease. FlightRadar24 ADS-B data shows the plane now operating six domestic sectors a day. In addition to the B737-800s that Corendon has placed with SpiceJet, ch-aviation fleets data shows that there are also five Corendon B737-8s operating on wet-leases at SpiceJet.
In 3Q 2022, ch-aviation reported that SpiceJet was among several India-based carriers looking to use ACMI capacity in 2023 to to help offset a shortage of aircraft. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recently loosened previously stringent rules around ACMI to allow local airlines to bring in additional capacity to meet passenger demand. Nonetheless, the maximum wet-lease period the DGCA is allowing SpiceJet is reported to be just six months. ch-aviation has contacted SpiceJet for further details and clarification.
SpiceJet also has 129 undelivered B737-8s on order with Boeing but is now experiencing problems firming up new delivery timelines after pausing them due to Covid-19. Aside from the Corendon ACMI aircraft, SpiceJet has not received any MAX aircraft since 2018. In addition to the B737-8s and B737-800s, SpiceJet also operates five B737-700s, one B737-700(BDSF), three B737-900ERs, and twenty-eight DHC-8-Q400s. The airline has no outstanding aircraft orders other than the MAX order.
