SpiceJet secures Haj 2025 flight rights from 4 Indian cities, expects ₹185 crore revenue

Domestic carrier SpiceJet on Monday announced that it has been awarded the rights to operate Haj flights in 2025 from four major cities—Kolkata, Guwahati, Srinagar, and Gaya.

The airline said it will operate over 100 special flights for the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, using a combination of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.

SpiceJet is expected to fly around 15,500 additional pilgrims in 2025, an 18 per cent increase compared to this year. The operations are projected to generate revenue of ₹185 crore, the company said in a statement.

Haj has been a significant revenue contributor for SpiceJet, the airline said.

During the last Haj season, SpiceJet deployed two wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft with a seating capacity of 324 passengers each, it added.

Shares of SpiceJet were trading at ₹62.29 on Monday, up 0.58 per cent from the previous close on Friday.

The announcement of the Haj flight rights is seen as a boost for the cash-strapped airline, which has been navigating operational and financial challenges in recent years.

Last week, SpiceJet announced that aircraft lessor Aircastle has withdrawn its insolvency case against the airline after reaching a mutually agreed settlement.

The dispute, which involved claims of $23.39 million, was resolved with a payment of $5 million and an agreement on the treatment of certain aircraft engines, SpiceJet said on Thursday.

"Aircastle (Ireland) Designated Activity Company has withdrawn its insolvency case against SpiceJet before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). This follows a mutually agreed-upon settlement, marking a positive turn in the airline's efforts to rebuild and strengthen ties with its partners," the airline said in a statement.

The QIP, which ran from September 16 to 18, attracted major institutional investors, including Goldman Sachs (Singapore), BNP Paribas Financial Markets ODI, Morgan Stanley Asia, Nomura Singapore Limited ODI, and Tata Mutual Fund.

The funds will be used to operationalise grounded aircraft, acquire new planes, invest in technology, and expand into new markets, according to the company.

Apart from the ₹3,000 crore raised via QIP, the airline secured an additional ₹736 crore in a previous funding round. _ With PTI inputs_