SpiceJet to go on hiring spree for its regional airline
05 Apr 2011
Mumbai: Gurgaon-headquartered low cost carrier SpiceJet will soon go on a hiring spree to staff its proposed regional airline. It said it will take on as many as 150 pilots and 300 cabin crew.
The regional carrier, likely to launch in June this year, will connect smaller towns with metro cities of south India. In all likelihood the regional operation will use Hyderabad as its hub.
Last year the airline placed an order for 15 Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft keeping the launch of its regional operation in mind. The aircraft can accommodate 70-80 people.
Since the Q400 is a new aircraft for the Indian aviation sector SpiceJet will also look to recruit a new chief pilot and chief of engineering.
According to senior SpiceJet officials the proposed carrier will look to connect destinations that are one to one-and-a-half hours flight time from Hyderabad. With north Indian destinations fairly well connected the regional operation will look to focus on the south.
Though the sudden rise of crude prices has once again set off alarm bells in the aviation sector SpiceJet officials say they will continue their expansion programme and look to tap the opportunities provided by tier II and III cities.
Through its regional operation SpiceJet will also tap into the feeder traffic provided by international legacy carriers, who cannot provide services for onward journeys to smaller towns from metros.