Even SpiceJet adds more flights from Mumbai

Jet Airways is operating just 28 aircraft out of a fleet of 110 aircraft. Some slots are being redistributed to other airlines on a temporary basis. A few days back, Vistara and AirAsia India added a few flights from Mumbai. Now SpiceJet and IndiGo have also jumped on to the bandwagon.

SpiceJet 737 MAX grounded at Delhi airport

SpiceJet will increase frequency on three domestic routes out of Mumbai from April 18, 2019. SpiceJet will add one daily frequency on the following routes:

Mumbai – Varanasi

SG246 BOM1235 – 1430VNS 737 D
SG247 VNS1510 – 1735BOM 737 D

Mumbai – Chennai

SG251 BOM1825 – 2015MAA 737 D
SG252 MAA2050 – 2305BOM 737 D

Mumbai – Kolkata

SG241 BOM0515 – 0755CCU 737 D
SG242 CCU0905 – 1150BOM 737 D

The Kolkata flights have only been added through the end of April 2019 at the moment, so very few frequencies in this schedule. But Varanasi and Chennai flights have been added till July 14, 2019.

Apart from this, SpiceJet will be adding a daily flight between Mumbai – Bangkok from May 17, 2019. Jet Airways used to operate two daily flights on the Mumbai – Bangkok route, but this launch seems to be a replacement of their Hyderabad – Bangkok flight with Mumbai – Bangkok.

Daily Mumbai – Bangkok flights

SG081 BOM0405 – 1010BKK 737 D
SG082 BKK2240 – 0210BOM 737 D

SG 81/82 is the flight number SpiceJet used for Hyderabad-Bangkok route which got cancelled as 13 SpiceJet 737 Max aircraft are grounded. SpiceJet even filed SG 81/82 Hyderabad-Bangkok for Summer 2019 season and was bookable for travel from May 1, 2019. But SpiceJet has closed bookings for that flight now.

SpiceJet’s international schedule out of Hyderabad Source: DGCA

A carrier which is already grappling with maintaining their schedule, having cancelled scores of flights due to a shortage of 12 aircraft is adding several new routes to take advantage of the current situation. I haven’t checked but I am more than certain these flights are coming at an expense of current operational flights. This tells you how much slots at Mumbai airport are valuable to airlines.

Let’s see if Air India and GoAir also get their hands on some Jet Airways slots and add a few flights out of Mumbai. I will be writing a separate update on IndiGo shortly.

Which one of these new flights being added from Mumbai will become your go-to flight?