KOCHI:
SpiceJet, the country’s favourite airline and the biggest air cargo operator, has operated 146 international charter flights to Kerala bringing back 25,708 stranded citizens from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Overall, the airline has helped repatriate 30,000 Indian nationals till date in the last two months.
SpiceJet has operated 97 international charter flights to Kerala from the UAE and 26 from Saudi Arabia bringing home 17,115 and 4,568 Keralites respectively. In addition, the airline has also operated 11 charter flights from Oman to bring back 1,925 Keralites and 12 flights from Qatar helping 2,100 residents of Kerala reach their hometown. In June alone, SpiceJet operated a total of 175 charter flights to different parts of the country.
Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “SpiceJet is proud to have played a small role in repatriating over 25,000 Keralites back to Kerala and helping them reunite with their families. We continue to operate multiple charters on a daily basis and remain dedicated in our efforts to facilitate the return of our fellow citizens back home. This pandemic has seen SpiceJet rise to the occasion as and when our services have been required. We have transported around 20,000 tons of cargo since March 25 this year carrying medicines and medical equipment and fruits and vegetables to all corners of India and the world.”
SpiceJet’s international cargo network now spans over 45 countries with the airline operating regular flights to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kabul, Kyrgyzstan, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Myanmar, Moscow, Shanghai, Singapore, Sharjah, Tashkent and a host of other places.
SpiceJet operated the country’s first cargo-on-seat flight on April 7 carrying vital supplies in passenger cabin & belly space. Since then, the airline has been regularly deploying its B737 and Q400 passenger aircraft to carry cargo in the passenger cabin.