Spicejet launches flights to Chennai, Hyderabad

Budget airline Spicejet has launched daily flights to Chennai and Hyderabad from here, as a part of its plans to connect 12 tier-II and -III cities across the country.
   
The services, which began on Thursday with the arrival of the first flight from Hyderabad, will be mostly operated by the airline's fleet of Q400 Nextgen Turbotrop aircraft, Spicejet CEO Neil Raymond Mills told reporters on Friday.
   
"Spicejet Airlines has been fast expanding its domestic footprint with Q400 Nexgen turbotrop aircraft from Bombardier. Its fleet addition aims at enhancing air connectivity to tier-II and III destinations including Aurangabad, Bhopal, Goa, Nagpur, Pune, Rajamundhry, Pune, Tirupati, Trivandrum and Vijayawada," he said.
   
The new services offer "affordable and competitive" rates to travellers, the airline official said.
   
The airline had placed orders for a total of 30 Q400 Nexgen which can accommodate 78 passengers and are widely accepted as an ideal short-haul flights.
   
Five aircraft have already been delivered and another two are expected by this month end.
   
The airlines had recently announced the addition of Tiruchirappalli as its 30th destination, he said.
Source: ZeeNews

SpiceJet plane suffered bird hit: officials

JAIPUR: A day after a SpiceJet flight from Jaipur to Ahmedabad produced an emergency landing as a result of a snag in 1 of its engines, senior airport officials and also the airline's ground staff concerned have said the aircraft suffered a bird hit.

Following the incident, the Airport Authority of India, Jaipur, has intensified measures to scare the birds away even as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has yet to ascertain the lead to of the engine problem.

As part of the measures, AAI has elevated the frequency of firing guns to produce bubbles of LPG gas during the air to scare away the birds besides inspecting the runway by a team during the air targeted traffic manage just before each plane lands or takes off.

Ajay Singh looking to do a SpiceJet with MDLR

Right after exiting the board of low-cost airline SpiceJet last year, Ajay Singh has initiated the system of investing in another carrier — the beleaguered MDLR Airlines — hoping to breathe new life into it.

New Delhi-based MDLR, a regional carrier, stopped operations in November 2009 after defaulting on lease payments to BAe for its Avro RJ70 aircraft.

According to a source during the know, Singh, who had promoted SpiceJet along with London-based NRI Bhupendra Kansagra, has sought the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s permission to select up around 23% stake in MDLR.

“He (Singh) has employed towards Ministry of Civil Aviation to purchase stake in MDLR Airlines to revive its operations. The software program is becoming processed and the ministry has sought clarifications over a source on the fund,” mentioned the source.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the price at which Singh was buying the stake.

MDLR, which began operations in March 2007, was founded by Gopal Goyal Kanda, a politician from Haryana, and is wholly owned by Murli Dhar Lakh Ram (MDLR) Group.

The company’s schedule airline operating allow has turn out to be defunct as all of the aircraft in its fleet have been deregistered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for over a year now. However, its airline operating allow is nonetheless valid.

Singh could not be reached over a phone for your response plus a text message sent to him remained unanswered.

A senior executive with another airline, who did not desire to be named, mentioned even if Singh succeeds in owning stake in MDLR, he will have to begin operations from scratch.

“He will have to get brand new aircraft, set up new engineering and maintenance facility and begin all over again. It will be like setting up a brand new airline, except for applying for the airline operating permit,” he said.

Despite stepping down during the SpiceJet board in August last year, Singh continues to keep around 5% stake during the budget airline even after media baron Kalanithi Maran bought over a majority stake of 37.7% in Spicejet.

Singh, and also the Kansagra family, had re-launched the bankrupt Modiluft Airlines in 2005 after taking it over from industrialist SK Modi, who operated the airline in partnership with Lufthansa in mid-90s.

SpiceJet fought a lengthy legal battle with Modi to settle a dispute over 11.5 million shares on the airline, which the Modiluft promoter claimed have been nonetheless owned by him.

Modiluft was reincarnated as SpiceJet, and is these days the second-largest budget airline after IndiGo, having a marketplace share of 12.9%.

Source: DNA India

International reporting time for domestic flyers?

NEW DELHI: With airlines flying record loads since the Christmas weekend and the rush peaking now, airlines have advised passengers to verify in earlier than usual at crowded airports. SpiceJet passengers flying out of Kolkata this weekend got text messages to report three hours ahead of departure time — the reporting time for international flights! Jet Airways has asked flyers to achieve airports 2 hours ahead of departure time.

"In view of enhanced security at all airports by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Jet has requested all its guests to verify in early to avoid congestion at airports and also allow flights to depart on time. Guests have been advised to report 2 hours ahead of departure time," said a Jet spokesperson. Airline sources say that domestic site visitors is growing incredibly sharply and airports that have not seen expansion are merely unable to cope from the site visitors figures. "In smaller airports like Goa, the security verify line for outbound passengers beings from arrival terminal itself. Kolkata is also choked. Airport expansion plans are taking off at a incredibly slow pace," complained a senior pilot.

While airlines find it difficult to hold on time performance with passengers stuck in serpentine security queues even when it's flight departure time, flyers are suffering too because of poor infrastructure.

Source: India Times

Good Airline Service at Affordable Fares

The airlines has set its typical high and tries difficult to compete with AC coaches of Indian Railways which speaks significantly for the affordable and economical cost of its Flight tickets. As well as the most remarkable factor is that SpiceJet has been awarded with World travel industry Award 2009. Moreover, Skytrax, in the year 2007, voted it as essentially the most low-cost airline in South Asia and central Asia region.

There is 2 aircrafts selected by this airline for fleet in order to have the greater accuracy ion maintenance and offer low fare for the passenger. The 2 aircrafts are Boeing 737-800 with 189 seats and Boeing 737-900ER with 212 seats. The aircrafts provides you a safe, simple and enjoyable journey.

SpiceJet Airlines covers numerous destinations across India touching numerous cities just like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jammu, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and Srinagar. They offer cheap air tickets for numerous well-known destinations just like Kolkata-Delhi-Kolkata, New Delhi-Goa-New Delhi, Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Mumbai, New Delhi-Hyderabad-New Delhi, Bangalore-Hyderabad-Bangalore, Mumbai-Bangalore-Mumbai, New Delhi-Mumbai-New Delhi, Bangalore-Kolkata-Bangalore, Mumbai-Chennai-Mumbai, New Delhi-Chennai-New Delhi and Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai.

SpiceJet offer various choices for each a corporation trip including a pleasure trip. They get all of the maintenance aid by KLM and assure you for safe and dependable flights. All of their staffs are well trained and experienced to offer essentially the most feasible service and ensure the maximum comfort for the travelers.

SpiceJet assures you for your great service in the most affordable price. Its main functionality is to offer essentially the most of services inside your budget. They assist you to save lots of dollars that you can invest on some extra shopping or foods although your journey. You are should enjoy the journey should you know you happen to be owning essentially the most deal and that as well without the need of compromising of the standards of services. There are numerous on the net travel services to assist you to of the ticket registration for Spicejet flights. So why delay, go ahead and book your ticket to your most versatile journey of your life.

SpiceJet Q2 net profit at Rs 10.11 cr

SpiceJet has declared its second quarter results. The company’s Q2 net profit was at Rs 10.11 crore versus loss of Rs 101 crore, year-on-year, YoY.

Its income from operations was up at Rs 603 crore versus Rs 449 crore, YoY.

The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 2.75 per share. (Jun, 2010). The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 32.05.

The latest book value of the company is Rs -7.99 per share. At current value, the price-to-book value of the company was -11.03.
Source: India Earnings

Maran launches SpiceJet open offer

Delhi-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet’s new promoters SunTV chief Kalanithi Maran and his business KAL Airways has launched an open supply to acquire an additional 20% stake from the low-cost carrier on October 18. The supply will open on October 18 and close on November 6, said a filing over a Bombay Stock Exchange dated October 13.

In June, the Chennai-based industrialist had clinched a deal to acquire a 37.7% stake from the low-cost carrier for Rs 739.57 crore from American investor Wilbur Ross, his investment organizations as well as the Kansagara family-promoted Royal Holding Services.

Recently, Maran elevated his stake from the budget airline to 25.12% by obtaining 7.42% much more stake via off-market transactions. Shareholders are going to be accessible Rs 57.76 for every share they retain in SpiceJet, translating into a 3% premium more than the closing cost of Rs 56.05 on June 11, 2010. This would involve an outgo of close to Rs 480 crore, taking the overall deal size to Rs 1,220 crore as Maran and his company KAL Airways had clinched the deal to pick up a 37.73% stake in SpiceJet at Rs 47.25 apiece.
Source: Financial Express

Maran buys 7.4% in SpiceJet

NEW DELHI: Sun TV owner Kalanithi Maran has bought 7.4% equity in SpiceJet for Rs 135 crore, taking his direct stake to 25%. SpiceJet informed off-market transaction in a filing to BSE. This is part of the deal happened in earlier this year, when Maran had decided to buy US distress fund owner Wilbur Ross and airline promoter Bhulo Kansagara's combined 37.7% stake.

After raising his stake to 17.7% last week, Maran and his aviation arm KAL Airways has now bought about 2.9 crore shares for Rs 47.25 apiece. He has an option to acquire another 20% stake through an open offer. Following the acquisition by Maran, SpiceJet's CEO Sanjay Agarwal quit the airline and joined Kingfisher. SpiceJet appointed Neil Raymond Mills as its CEO. Mills was recently part of thestartupteamofFlyDubai , a low cost associate of Emirates. Before that, he was part of EasyJet.

There is a growing speculation that Maran may be eying Wadia Group-owned GoAir. At present, SpiceJet is India's second largest LCC with a 12.6% market share, behind IndiGo at 16.4%. GoAir had a share of 5.7%. So acquiring GoAir will make SpiceJet the biggest LCC in the country.

Source : Times of India

SpiceJet takes off as Kalanithi Maran hikes stake to 17.7%

SpiceJet rose 2.65% at Rs 79.30 at 9:11 IST on BSE after Sun TV promoter Kalanithi Maran and his unlisted aviation firm Kal Airways acquired 1.93 crore shares, or 5.03% equity in the firm as part of the deal to acquire 37.7% stake in the firm.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 5.10 points, or 0.02%, to 20,537.98.

On BSE, 4.45 lakh shares were traded in the counter as against an average daily volume of 41.33 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

The stock hit a high of Rs 80.25 and a low of Rs 77.70 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 81 on 13 September 2010 and a 52-week low of Rs 32.40 on 28 October 2009.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 5 October 2010, gaining 6.61% compared with the Sensex's 12% jump. It outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 41.11% as against 17.01% rise in the Sensex.

The mid-cap low-cost air carrier has an equity capital of Rs 385.22 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

The shares were acquired on 5 October 2010 through an off-market transaction. Maran's direct holding in SpiceJet now stands at 17.72%. In June 2010, Maran and Kal Airways had agreed to buy 37.7% in the carrier from US investor Wilbur Ross and Royal Holdings Services, held by the Kansagra family, for Rs 739 crore at Rs 47.25 a share.

SpiceJet's net profit soared 109.6% to Rs 55.22 crore on 34.9% rise in net sales to Rs 707.86 crore in Q1 June 2010 over Q1 June 2009.

Source

Kingfisher Trying to Rope in Former SpiceJet Official

MUMBAI: Vijay Mallya-owned private air-carrier, Kingfisher Airlines is in talks with a top former executive of the budget airline, SpiceJet to take him onboard and a final decision on the issue is expected shotly, sources said.

"The former Chief Executive Officer of SpiceJet Airlines, Sanjay Aggarwal, and Kingfisher Airlines' Chairman, Vijay Mallya are in touch for quite some time. A meeting between the two is slated for later this week," industry sources familiar with the development said here on Wednesday.

If the talks fructify, Aggarwal may be appointed for a top job in Kingfisher as early as October, they said.

Aggarwal, who is credited with flying SpiceJet into profit in FY 10, the first time since its inception in 2005, quit the job in July after Chennai-based media baron, Kalanithi Maran bought 37.7 per cent stake with a 20 per cent open offer, following the US investor deciding to offoad his stake.

If Aggarwal comes onboard, his immediate task would be to turnaround the debt-ridden, loss-making airline, sources said.

Aviation industry research and analysis provider, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) in its mid-year review of the domestic airlines in July this year had stressed on the need of CEO and COO in the airline.

"In order to ensure that the airline (Kingfisher) pursues a disciplined turnaround, a new organisation structure needs to be established with the induction of a CEO and COO," the report had said.

As on March 31, 2010, Kingfisher Airlines' debt stood at Rs 6,000-crore, the largest for any domestic private air carrier. Besides, the company posted a loss of Rs 1647-crore in FY 10.

Even in the first quarter of the current fiscal, airline posted a loss of Rs 187-crore.

Source: The Economic Times