SpiceJet gears up for transporting home Nitaqat-hit Indians

SpiceJet, India’s low fare airline, has announced plans to provide discounted air tickets to thousands of needy workers hit by the Kingdom’s program to nationalize the local job market.

The airline, which is gearing itself up to fly a large number of Indian workers after the expiry of the three-month grace period, has also announced the launch of its new flights to north Indian destinations as passenger loads continue to grow on Saudi-India sector.

Harish Moideen Kutty, SpiceJet chief commercial officer, who led a delegation of SpiecJet officials, said the airline would also hand out some free tickets to those trapped in “huroob” cases.

India’s Riyadh-based embassy and Jeddah-based consulate have enlisted several such cases.

The Indian missions have cumulatively received more than 60,000 requests for emergency travel documents from distressed workers so far.

Kutty spoke at a reception hosted by Al-Blagha Travel, the GSA of SpiceJet in Saudi Arabia. Shaji Nihal, manager of Al-Blagha Travels (Spicejet GSA), spoke about the SpiceJet operations in Saudi Arabia.

Top SpiceJet officials, members of the Indian community and travel industry leaders attended the reception.

Vipul Seth, SpiceJet general manager for business development and Rashid Kutty, sales manager, were also present.

Kutty said: “SpiceJet will be flying to north Indian city of Lucknow during the third quarter of this year.”

The carrier, which flies daily to Delhi, plans to fly to more destinations in India this year as it taps business and leisure travelers from both countries, he added.

“We have already started services between Lucknow and Sharjah,” he said.

The chief commercial officer said: “I can also guarantee that the SpiceJet will always give passengers the best fare.”

He said more than 40,000 passengers fly SpiceJet daily, which has the “best on-time” performance.

“We as a branded airline look forward to a long sustained relationship with Saudi Arabia and our partners in this country,” he said.

Predicting the revenue of about $ 1 billion during the current financial year, a report pointed out that “SpiceJet holds 20 percent share in India’s domestic segment.”

Speaking about the quality services offered by SpiceJet on Riyadh-Delhi sector, Nihal said: “SpiceJet is always ready to provide better operational facilities, and is geared to take maximum care of passengers.”

He said SpiceJet’s mission is to become India’s preferred low-cost airline, delivering the lowest air fares with the highest consumer value, to price sensitive consumers.

“We hope to fulfill everyone’s dream of flying,” he added.

“With economic and business growth of Saudi Arabia and India, the percentage of traveling population is burgeoning,” said Nihal, adding that more and more Indians are traveling and everyone needs to save both time and money.

SpiceJet’s vision is to address that and ensure that flying is for everyone, he added.

With a dynamic fare structure, SpiceJet offers fares that are affordable and significantly lower than most airlines, he said.

Nihal counted the benefits of the new Spicejet flight from Riyadh to New Delhi, saying that the Indian workers, Saudi travelers and holidaymakers, who are often to be seen scrambling for cheap deals for tickets on flights connecting India and Saudi Arabia, now have added options made available to them by SpiceJet.

This is in addition to the 40 kg free baggage offer given by this “popular no-frills” airline, which operates the new generation Boeing 737 NG aircraft on this route.

SpiceJet and Al-Blagaha opened a fully equipped office in Batha district of Riyadh to handle day-to-day operations, while plans are afoot to open new offices in the Kingdom.