SpiceJet ties-up with Brussels Airport for

 SpiceJet ties-up with Brussels Airport for seamless delivery of Covid-19 vaccine between India and Europe and beyond

·         Strategic partnership will aid in the global mission of a speedy and reliable solution for vaccine transportation

·         SpiceXpress to provide air connectivity to carry Covid-19 vaccine pan India and internationally with proper temperature-controlled mechanism

SpiceJet, the country’s favourite airline, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Belgium’s Brussels Airport for providing seamless transportation of Covid-19 vaccine.

As strategic partners, both SpiceJet and Brussels Airport Company NV will jointly work with the Government, pharma companies and forwarders to ensure a reliable ecosystem for vaccine delivery in a temperature-controlled environment. Besides, they will also work towards developing and strengthening a direct air link for SpiceJet with Brussels Airport.

 As part of this association, Brussels Airport will be SpiceJet’s first flight point for Europe. The airline’s cargo arm, SpiceXpress, envisions to provide rapid and secure transportation of Covid-19 vaccine from and to Europe and beyond with proper temperature-controlled mechanism under the MoU.

 Brussels Airport shall provide assistance to SpiceJet with regards to slots, networking contracts etc. to provide efficient and speedy solution for delivery. Brussels Airport has several years of expertise in the transport of temperature-sensitive products and has handled multiple flights carrying Covid vaccine recently.

 Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet said, “We are delighted to partner with Brussels Airport in our fight against the pandemic. This tie-up will help SpiceJet to seamlessly transport vaccines not only from Europe and beyond to India but also help Indian manufacturers export extremely sensitive drugs in a safe and controlled environment. We are fully committed and prepared to transport the Covid vaccine and assist in the biggest vaccination drive in the history of mankind.”

 Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport Company said, “As Europe’s preferred airport for the transport of temperature-sensitive products, Brussels Airport, certified IATA CEIV Pharma, has more than 30,000m² of temperature-controlled areas. As from today, we have already shipped more than 10 million doses of vaccine from our Brucargo platform to destinations around the world. In this context, we are very pleased to be partnering with SpiceJet and to be able to offer our expertise for the future distribution of vaccines from India within Europe and beyond. Together, we will make our contribution to the solution to this global health crisis.”

 As part of its continued efforts to take up the responsibility of transporting Covid-19 vaccine to every part of the country as well as outside India, SpiceJet has partnered with GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo, Om Logistics Ltd., Snowman Logistics among others. 

 With a network spanning 54 domestic and 45 international destinations and a fleet of 17 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 500 tonnes of cargo per day to both domestic and a wide list of international destinations. The airline has also tied up with global leaders in cold chain solutions offering active and passive packaging with dedicated equipment to perform seamless cold chain operations.

 SpiceXpress has the capability to transport extremely sensitive drugs, vaccines blood samples and medicines in controlled temperatures ranging from -40°c to +25°c. Besides, the airline also offers other benefits such as a network of warehouses equipped with deep freezers to enable change of cool packs and ground vehicles and containers to help transport sensitive cargo.

 Ever since the lockdown began, SpiceJet and its cargo arm, SpiceXpress, has played a critical role and worked relentlessly to ensure that the country’s supply chain remained intact. The airline has helped in the transportation of vital goods and medical supplies to all corners of India and the world. SpiceJet has operated more than 12,600 cargo flights since the lockdown began and carried around 1,02,000 tonnes of cargo. SpiceXpress has the capability of providing door-to-door deliveries to over 12,600 pin codes across India.

SpiceJet ties-up with GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo for

 SpiceJet ties-up with GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo for storage & seamless delivery of Covid-19 vaccine

·         The strategic partnership is envisioned to not only provide a speedy and reliable solution for vaccine delivery, but to also create a sustainable cold chain network

·         SpiceXpress to provide first mile pick up and last mile delivery pan India and internationally

·         SpiceXpress has the capability of transporting extremely sensitive drugs, vaccines and blood samples in controlled temperatures ranging from -40°c to +25°c

SpiceJet, the country’s favourite airline, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC), the cargo division of GMR Air Cargo & Aerospace Engineering Ltd. (GACAEL), for providing a seamless service to all vaccine manufacturers in the region.

As part of this association, SpiceXpress – the cargo arm of SpiceJet – envisions to provide efficient, speedy and reliable solution for vaccine delivery, while also creating a sustainable cold chain network. SpiceXpress aims to provide the first mile pick up and last mile delivery to carry COVID–19 vaccines across the domestic and international markets in a temperature controlled environment.

Under the MoU, GHAC shall provide available required space on priority for SpiceJet’s vaccine shipments besides training its personnel along with the airline for specific customer requirement. SpiceJet on its part will keep a dedicated fleet of freighters including wide-body aircraft at Hyderabad airport to handle all domestic and international consignments.

Hyderabad, which is already at the centre stage of India’s Covid-19 vaccine development programme, is expected to be a key hub in the manufacturing and distribution of the vaccine both domestically as well as globally. The association between SpiceJet and GHAC will aid the manufacturers in the region by ensuring seamless delivery of the vaccine.

Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet said, “We are delighted to have GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo as a partner in our fight against the pandemic. Delivering Covid-19 vaccines safely not just within India but across the globe is a task we are fully committed to. With strong partners and our capability to transport extremely sensitive drugs and vaccines in controlled temperatures of up to -40°c, we feel that we are fully prepared to assist in the biggest vaccination drive in the history of mankind.”

As part of its continued efforts to take up the responsibility of transporting Covid-19 vaccine to every part of the country as well as outside India, SpiceJet has recently partnered with Om Logistics Ltd. and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Snowman Logistics.

With a network spanning 54 domestic and 45 international destinations and a fleet of 17 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 500 tonnes of cargo per day to both domestic and a wide list of international destinations. The airline has also tied up with global leaders in cold chain solutions offering active and passive packaging with dedicated equipment to perform seamless cold chain operations.

SpiceXpress recently introduced a new specialized service called Spice Pharma Pro, which has the capability to transport extremely sensitive drugs, vaccines blood samples and medicines in controlled temperatures ranging from -40°c to +25°c. Besides, the airline also offers a plethora of other benefits such as a network of warehouses equipped with deep freezers to enable change of cool packs and ground vehicles and containers to help transport sensitive cargo.

Ever since the lockdown began, SpiceJet and its cargo arm, SpiceXpress, has played a critical role and worked relentlessly to ensure that the country’s supply chain remained intact. The airline has helped in the transportation of vital goods and medical supplies to all corners of India and the world. SpiceJet has operated 11800 cargo flights since the lockdown began and carried around 93500 tons of cargo. Since 2018, SpiceJet has developed the capability of providing door-to-door deliveries to over 12,600 pin codes across India.

SpiceJet launches dedicated cargo flights to

 SpiceJet launches dedicated cargo flights to Leh ensuring timely & seamless supply of essentials during winters

First & only Indian airline to operate dedicated freighter services to Leh

 ·         Carries 13 tonnes of cargo supplies on its maiden flight from Delhi to Leh

·         Dedicated freighter services to boost connectivity & address challenges of surface transportation owing to bad weather conditions in the winters

·         Ensure timely supplies for the local populace & administration in Leh

SpiceJet, country’s favourite airline, today launched dedicated freighter services connecting Leh with the rest of the country. The airline operated its first freighter flight from Delhi to Leh carrying 13 tonnes of cargo supplies.

SpiceJet’s first freighter flight SG 7370 departed from Delhi at 9:05 am and reached Leh at 10:40 am. The airline’s first scheduled cargo flight from Leh departed at 11:25 am and was flagged of by Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Shri. Jamyang Tsering Namgyal. The flag off ceremony was attended by senior AAI and SpiceJet officials to celebrate the arrival of the first SpiceJet freighter flight to Leh. 

 

 SpiceXpress, the dedicated cargo arm of SpiceJet, will deploy its Boeing 737 freighter on this route. With the launch of the cargo services, SpiceJet is the first and only airline to have dedicated freighter flights connecting Leh.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet said, “SpiceJet is proud to launch the country’s first dedicated cargo flights connecting Leh with the National Capital and the rest of the country. Our flight services are especially significant considering the extreme weather conditions during winter months when temperatures fall below sub-zero levels hampering the movement of essential supplies and cargo for the local populace and administration in Leh. Our freighter services to Leh will ensure seamless and timely transportation of essential supplies to this most beautiful part of our country throughout winters.”

The new flights launched are seasonal and will operate during the winter months when surface transportation is disrupted owing to harsh weather conditions.  Leh, the largest town of the Union Territory of Ladakh, is primarily dominated by a mountainous landscape which makes surface transport even more difficult during the winters when the terrain is mostly covered with snow most of the time.

In line with its commitment to ensure seamless transportation of essential commodities, SpiceJet aims to address the geographical challenges while offering seamless connectivity through its cargo service.

The dedicated cargo flights will help transport fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, perishables, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and other general cargo. Besides improving logistics and connectivity, the new freighter service will ensure transportation of these essential commodities remains unaffected due to dipping temperatures and adverse weather conditions during these winter months.

SpiceJet operates a fleet of 17 cargo aircraft including three wide-body planes and is the only Indian carrier to operate long-haul non-stop cargo flights to Europe, Africa and CIS countries.

SpiceJet’s international cargo network now spans over 50 international destinations that include Almaty, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Bahrain, Bangkok, Bishkek, Cambodia, Cairo, Cebu, Chad, Colombo, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Erbil (Iraq), Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Huangzhou, Incheon, Jakarta, Kabul, Kathmandu, Khartoum, Kyrgyzstan, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Male, Moscow, Myanmar, Shanghai, Singapore, Sharjah, Sulaymaniyah, Tashkent, Ukraine, Yekaterinburg (Russia) among others.

To enhance regional connectivity at various levels, SpiceJet became the first Indian carrier to introduce dedicated cargo flights for North Eastern India in September 2020. Pioneer of India’s ‘Marine Krishi Udaan’, SpiceJet had launched dedicated freighter flights earlier this year in February 2020, from Chennai & Vishakhapatnam to Surat & Kolkata to boost the country’s shrimp farming. The airline’s cargo services operate on both domestic and international routes, powered by fully integrated transportation network including air cargo, ground transportation and warehousing facilities across the country.

Since the nationwide lockdown began, the airline has operated more than 10,600 cargo flights and transported over 83000 tonnes of cargo since March 25, 2020.

In addition to handling its regular cargo business, SpiceXpress has been regularly transporting surgical supplies, sanitizers, face masks, coronavirus rapid test kits, IR thermometers etc. and providing doorstep deliveries of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment to various cities in India.

Freighter schedule:

Flight No:

	Origin	Destination	Departure	Arrival	Date of operation
SG - 7370	Delhi	Leh	09:05	10:40	26-Nov, 2020
SG - 7371	Leh	Delhi	11:25	12:50	26-Nov, 2020
SG - 7370	Delhi	Leh	09:35	11:10	28-Nov, 2020
SG - 7371	Leh	Delhi	11:55	13:20	28-Nov, 2020
SG - 7370	Delhi	Leh	09:05	10:40	30-Nov, 2020
SG - 7371	Leh	Delhi	11:25	12:50	30-Nov, 2020

Impact of COVID-19 on SpiceJet Q1 Results

Impact of COVID-19 on SpiceJet Q1 Results – posts loss due to flight suspension

Cargo revenue more than doubles

Company launches aggressive cost reduction plan

For the Quarter ending June 2020

·         EBIDTAR profit of INR 13.5 Cr

·         Revenue from cargo increased by 144%

·         Operating loss of INR 568.3 crore, net loss of INR 593.4 crore compared to a net profit of INR 261.7 crore in the same period last year

·         Registers industry’s highest domestic load factor of 66.4%

·         Capacity (in terms of seat kilometre) contracted by 90%

·         Revenue from operations fall by 83% due to COVID-19

·         Non-cash Ind-AS 116 impact of INR 25.1 crore

Key highlights

·         Continues to maintain market share of above 16% despite Covid-19 impact

·         Re-structuring of aircraft leases and early return of aircraft thereby having long term saving impact on costs

·         Emerged as India’s No. 1 Air Cargo airline

·         Likely return to service of the MAX in fourth quarter of FY2021 to boost operations

·         Received approval from DGCA to conduct drone trials, launches all-new frequent flyer program, complimentary in-flight entertainment system

·         Actively using Ras Al-Khaimah airport as a hub for cargo & passenger operations

Current Highlights

·         Operating 47% of pre-covid schedule post restart of operations

·         Operating a fleet of 13 cargo aircraft including two wide-body planes. Launches long-haul wide-body cargo operations

·         Largest air cargo airline, with carriage of 50,000 tonnes of cargo on more than 7000 flights

·         Cargo network spans over 63 domestic and 44 international destinations

·         Designated as an Indian scheduled carrier to operate to US and UK. Secured slots at London Heathrow airport

·         Operated successful long-haul repatriation charter flights to London, Rome, Amsterdam & Toronto since August 1, 2020

·          Operated more than 800 charter flights to repatriate over 1,20,000 Indian nationals stranded abroad

SpiceJet, India’s favourite airline and the largest air cargo operator, reported a net loss of INR 593.4 crore in the first quarter of FY21 against a profit of INR 261.7 crore in the same quarter of the previous year as flight operations remained suspended for most part of the quarter following the nationwide lockdown. 

Operating revenue was INR 514.7 crore for the reported quarter as against INR 3,002.1 crore in the same quarter last year. For the same comparative period, operating expenses were INR 1303.2 crore as against INR 2,887.2 crore. On an EBITDA basis, loss was INR 11 crore for the reported quarter as against profit of INR 747.5 crore for the corresponding quarter last year. On an EBITDAR basis, the profit was INR 13.5 crore for the reported quarter as against profit of INR 812.1 crore for the same quarter last year. The present operating environment on account of Covid-19 though does not reflect the true comparison of the current results with those of corresponding quarter last year.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “This is the worst-ever crisis to hit the aviation sector but I am pleased that SpiceJet continues to innovate and outperform the industry. Flight operations were suspended for most part of the quarter and the partial resumption of flights initially and the weak demand thereafter was a reminder of the significant problems that this pandemic has resulted in.”

“As expected, Team SpiceJet showed remarkable resilience to deal with a crisis situation, once again. Our performance during the last six months clearly signifies our positive attitude and our ability to find opportunity in adversity. This has seen us quickly bounce back with industry best load factors and emerge as India’s number one cargo company. I am confident that as more and more States ease travel restrictions and business activity gets back to normal there will be a significant improvement in the operating environment for airlines and we are witnessing some early encouraging signs towards recovery. I expect our cargo business to continue to expand in the coming quarters. I am also encouraged by the progress made in the re-entry of Boeing’s Max aircraft into service.” 

In terms of operational parameters, SpiceJet had the best passenger load factor amongst all airlines in the country during the quarter. The average domestic load factor for the quarter was 66.4% and the airline maintained its market share of above 16% despite the impact of Covid-19 thus demonstrating robust operating parameters.

Key business updates         

SpiceJet played a key role in keeping the country’s supply chain intact during the lockdown period besides playing a key in helping our fellow citizens in every possible manner.

Till date, SpiceJet has operated over 800 charter and Vande Bharat flights to help repatriate more than 1,20,000 stranded Indian citizens from countries such as Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Netherlands, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. SpiceJet also operated long haul wide body charter operations with a fleet of A330/A340 aircraft.

SpiceJet established itself as country’s largest cargo operator and operated more than 7000 flights and transported around 50,000 tonnes of cargo since March 25, 2020. Out of these 7000 flights, 40% were to international destinations. In addition to handling its regular cargo business, it also transported surgical supplies, sanitizers, face masks, coronavirus rapid test kits, IR thermometers etc. and providing doorstep deliveries of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment to various cities in India at a time when most people wouldn’t venture out of their homes. The airline also contributed in a big way to support the government’s ‘Krishi Udan’ and ‘Marine Krishi Udaan’ initiatives, thereby lending a helping hand to Indian farmers, by carrying a record 9662 MTs of shrimp & farm produce during the lockdown period.

On April 7, 2020, SpiceJet operated the India’s first cargo-on-seat flight carrying vital supplies in passenger cabin and belly space. Since then, the airline has been regularly deploying its B737 and Q400 passenger aircraft to carry cargo in the passenger cabin.

SpiceJet’s international cargo network now spans over 44 international destinations that include Almaty, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Bahrain, Bangkok, Bishkek, Cambodia, Cairo, Cebu, Chad, Colombo, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Huangzhou, Incheon, Jakarta, Kabul, Kathmandu, Khartoum, Kyrgyzstan, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Male, Myanmar, Shanghai, Singapore, Sharjah, Sulaymaniyah, Tashkent, Ukraine, among others. The airline has been actively using Ras Al-Khaimah airport as a hub for its cargo operations.

With an aim to address the increased demand, SpiceJet converted 6 Q400 passenger aircraft into freighters, perfectly suited for operations to Tier II & III cities and to remote and hilly areas in the North East, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh.

Another major milestone for SpiceXpress, the airline’s dedicated cargo arm, was to receive the permission from DGCA to conduct drone trials. With this, the airline aims to provide quicker, faster and cost-effective delivery of medical, pharma and essential supplies and e-commerce products, especially to remote areas.