SpiceJet to restore grounded Boeing 737 MAX fleet to service after engine deal

Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet has started re-introducing its previously grounded fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft back into active service. The fleet had been grounded for several months toward the end of 2024 following maintenance issues and the lack of engineering support for the type’s CFM LEAP-1B engines. According to the airline, the development “marks a significant milestone in the airline’s fleet restoration and operational enhancement efforts.”

On December 20, 2024, the airline announced that it had reached an agreement with StandardAero Inc, a leading US-based engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, along with CFM International to restore the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet to service. The agreement with StandardAero followed the signing of support agreements with both CFM International and the lessors of the grounded 737 MAX aircraft. These developments paved the way for the return to service of an initial three Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft by April 2025.

Under its ongoing fleet restoration plan, the airline aims to bring back a total of ten grounded aircraft, which includes the three Boeing 737 MAX planes, back into service by mid-April 2025. The restructuring aligns with SpiceJet’s fleet restoration strategy which has seen rapid progress since the carrier resolved outstanding legal disputes with multiple aircraft leasing firms including Export Development Canada, Engine Lease Finance Corporation, Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management, Aircastle (Ireland), Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Limited, Shannon Engine Support Limited and Genesis.

Herget Josef / ShutterstockThe addition of the MAX aircraft will enable the airline to operate in high-demand markets such as Jeddah and Riyadh without operational restrictions. The induction of the more fuel-efficient MAX aircraft will also result in cost savings due to the aircraft’s reduced fuel consumption, lower maintenance requirements, and higher aircraft utilization.

“The re-induction of our first grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is a moment of immense pride and an important milestone for SpiceJet. It underscores our unwavering commitment to restoring and enhancing our fleet’s operational capacity. As we move forward, we remain focused on scaling new heights, offering exceptional service, and driving sustainable growth for our passengers and stakeholders,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman, and Managing Director, of SpiceJet.

With the bulk of its legal issues behind it, SpiceJet is now embarking on a multi-pronged approach to fleet restoration, which will prioritize network expansion, passenger convenience, and operational reliability. With IndiGo soaring ahead in the Indian market and with newcomer Akasa Air building a loyal following in certain sectors of the domestic traveling public, SpiceJet has some lost ground to make up.

Shaifuzzaman Ayon / Wikimedia CommonsYet, with the upcoming return of the fuel-saving MAX aircraft, the airline is poised to regain its foothold in the Indian aviation market. SpiceJet’s network expansion strategy has already resulted in the addition of more than 50 new flights since December 2024, and the return of these aircraft will further fuel this momentum.

According to ch-aviation, SpiceJet has 125 aircraft in its fleet which includes 106 Boeing 737 family aircraft. Five of these are Boeing 737 MAX 8s. It also operates ten De Havilland Canada DHC-8 turboprops and has various aircraft on wet-lease arrangements operating on its behalf including five 737 MAX 8s on lease from Corendon Airlines while its own MAX aircraft have been grounded.

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