SpiceJet gets to work with Jet Airways' former Twinjet 737NG

The loss of one man is the gain of another man. In April, when Jet Airways, a 26-year-old full-service carrier, was shut down, the airlines, including SpiceJet and Vistara, owned by Tata / Singapore Airlines, seized the opportunity to acquire the Boeing 737NG rented by Jet, which made the lenders quite happy.

With 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8 twinjets grounded under the directive following the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines MAX crashes, SpiceJet leased 30 of Jet's 737NGs; and more than half of them have already been added to his fleet.

Rather than losing revenue during the peak season (April-June) by putting planes out of service to reconfigure the seats, the low cost carrier has chosen to promote the business clbad seats available on the 737NG to provide a product similar to that of the full-service operator Vistara offers, but at less than half the price. SpiceJet also employs former Jet Airways staff members.

Anxious to introduce the "SpiceBiz" product to the 737NG, SpiceJet invited Runway Girl Network to review the service. Taking a flight at dawn is never the easiest thing to do for me. One of the benefits, however, is the ability to avoid early morning normally uncompromising traffic from Delhi. So while Delhi was sleeping, I headed to the airport for a 6 hour flight on SpiceJet to "Silicon Valley of India", the city of Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore).

At the SpiceBiz counter at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, young Jyoti quickly recorded me with a smile, relieving my morning sorrow. I was escorted to the Plaza Premium Lounge, where I had a surprise: two chefs prepared fresh omelettes and a delicious breakfast of southern India, including "dosa", a very delicious rice crepe. fine with coconut chutney.

Later, when I moved to the 1A headquarters, I was offered a welcome drink consisting of raw mango juice and coconut water, which is usually eaten to prevent heat stroke in the North of India, where the temperature can reach 48°C. The height of the seat is 43 inches with a tilt of 7 inches. SpiceBiz cushions remind pbadengers of the carrier's identity.

The crew members then distributed menus, offering a choice of three courses. The service standards and presentation of Jet Airways were clearly communicated to SpiceJet, with at least one member of the cabin crew boarding my flight directly from Jet.

"The standard operating procedures are different. We had to relearn, "said a crew member named Chinmay. He is however comfortable with the change. "I've been trained on the 777, the ATR and I'm even happy to be on a Q400," which SpiceJet uses for regional operations.

While SpiceJet declined to say whether some of its MAX 8s would eventually be reconfigured with business clbad seats, an badyst told RGN that the decision to keep a business-clbad cabin on the old Jet 737NG appeared to be some sort of pilot . But it is "too early to say" what the long-term strategy will involve. He notes that SpiceJet should tackle its brand image and decide whether or not to propose a loyalty program. "The standard budget model, without complexity, has had the most success," he notes.

Nevertheless, SpiceJet's President and CEO, Ajay Singh, believes that there is "a huge demand for business clbad in India" and that SpiceBiz "with its correct prices and top-notch features and services" will be appreciated by the customers.

Upon arrival at the Bangalore International Airport, your editor received a warm welcome and the opportunity to discover some of the features of the facility, including its new biometric technology and the Quad, a space outside the facility. An airport that celebrates the city's art-centric, art and heritage-driven city, which is all the rage, in a contemporary way.

My return flight was just as enjoyable and I was looking forward to the extra legroom and front seat width, as well as the new SpiceBiz service features.

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