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Gurugram, December 9, 2017: SpiceJet, the country’s largest regional
player, took a major step forward towards its goal of providing air connectivity to the
remotest parts of the country as it conducted seaplane trials in association with
Japan’s Setouchi Holdings at Mumbai’s Girgaum Chowpatty today.
SpiceJet and Setouchi Holdings have been working closely for over six months to explore
opportunities for small ten and fourteen seater amphibious and land plane operations to
provide air connectivity to smaller towns and cities of India which have hitherto
remained unconnected due to infrastructural challenges.
This was the second phase of trials for the amphibious aircraft. Under the first phase,
trials of the land plane were conducted in Nagpur and Guwahati.
The seaplane trails were conducted today in the presence of Shri Nitin Gadkari,
Honourable Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River
Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Honourable Minister of
Civil Aviation and senior government and aviation officials. SpiceJet is the only
Indian airline to explore air connectivity through water bodies such as rivers or
inland waterways.
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, regions in the North East, Andamans, Lakshadweep
and other coastal areas are a few destinations that are being evaluated for amphibious
plane operations.
Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet said, “We see tremendous potential in our
smaller cities and we feel it is our duty as an Indian carrier to bring these smaller
towns on the country’s aviation map. Being the largest regional airline in the country
and a trendsetter of the Regional Connectivity Scheme - UDAN, SpiceJet will continue to
add new wings and give a boost to regional economies.”
“Seaplane operations can bring the remotest parts of India into the mainstream aviation
network without the high cost of building airports and runways. While we are one of the
fastest growing aviation markets in the world, we need to ensure equitable and
inclusive air connectivity within the country. Our seaplane service will open a whole
new market for both the airline and tourism industry and will revolutionise the
regional connectivity scheme.”
Kazuyuki Okada, President & CEO, Setouchi Holdings Inc., said,
“SpiceJet has been doing an incredible job in driving the government’s UDAN scheme from
the very beginning. We are delighted to associate with the airline to support them in
their grand endeavour. With the ability to land in a small or confined space, Kodiaks
are the perfect flying machines that can effectively connect the country’s remote
cities and airstrips, which can in turn revolutionize the regional connectivity scheme.
We look forward to exploring new opportunities with SpiceJet which will help us serve
India better.”
Japan’s Setouchi Holdings Inc., a pioneer in the small aircraft aviation industry, is a
part of the Tsuneishi Group of Hiroshima Prefecture. Setouchi Holding owns QUEST, the
manufacturer of specialised amphibious and non-amphibious range of aircraft globally.
There are about 200 Kodiak Quest aircraft flying all over the world for the past 10
years.
Amphibious planes are reliable, tough and resilient and can take off and land from
places that do not have landing strips or runways and water bodies, thus reaching areas
that lack other modes of transport or adequate infrastructure. Reliable, tough and
resilient these smaller fixed wing aircraft can land on water bodies, gravel and grass.
SpiceJet, today, stands tall as the country’s largest regional player and among the
pacesetters for the UDAN scheme, kick-starting four routes in the recent past and plans
for unveiling more. This initiative reaffirms SpiceJet’s commitment to the regional
connectivity scheme.
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