Bombardier (Chalet 282) announced yesterday that popular Indian airline SpiceJet signed a letter of intent (LOI) for up to 50 Q400 turboprop airliners. This includes 25 Q400s and purchase rights on an additional 25. This order totals approximately $1.7 billion, based on the aircraft’s list price. Deliveries will start in 2018.
“I am delighted that we will be acquiring 50 Q400 planes,” said SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh. “The acquisition will help us further increase connectivity to smaller towns and cities and help realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring that every Indian can fly. Our passengers will be able to fly to more cities and help expand India’s already booming aviation market.”
SpiceJet has taken delivery of 15 Q400s since 2010. While the airline currently operates 20 Q400s, these aircraft feature the 78-seat configuration. The new aircraft SpiceJet has signed for will feature the 86-seat format. However, both Singh and Bombardier president Fred Cromer suggested that this could be changed to the 90-seat configuration.
“There’s nothing better than an existing customer further endorsing the product line by reordering,” Cromer told AIN. “It’s great to have SpiceJet step up, not just to order a handful of aircraft but really point to the Q400 as a key strategic tool for them as they continue to build out their network.”
Looking forward, Bombardier and SpiceJet will work together to create an infrastructure to support the Q400 in India. This may include localizing support facilities and training programs for pilots.
“When you have an order of this size, it opens up opportunities for us to be more present in supporting the entire air operation,” Cromer told AIN. “As Mr. Singh mentioned, we’re going to talk about pilot training and maintenance capability in order to bring all of that closer to where the operation is, because they’ll have a critical mass. So if you take the 20 aircraft they have today, and you continue to add another 25 or up to 50 additional aircraft, it makes sense to really sit down with them and ask how best to support them in region.”
