SpiceXpress – the cargo arm of Spicejet – has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-800 BCF – converted freighter – to better serve the region and enable it to open new freight routes.
The aircraft, the first one to be operated in South Asia is on lease from NGF Alpha, a division of Texas-based aircraft trading and leasing company Spectre Cargo Solutions.
SpiceJet chairman and managing director, Ajay Singh said: “We are expanding the markets we currently serve, particularly in the Middle East, Hong Kong and Bangladesh and the 737-800BCF’s reliability and versatility is helping enable our strategic direction.”
To date, SpiceXpress has nine scheduled departures six days a week to Hong Kong from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati and one domestic rotation connecting Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Spectre Air Capital CEO, Jordan Jaffe said bringing the 737-800BCF to India is exciting. He added: “We have already invested over a quarter billion dollars into our 737NG programme, and are thrilled to put our continuing commitment to work serving great operators like SpiceJet. They join a growing family of customers utilising our diverse product range of freighters.”
The 737-800BCF entered service last year and has an order book of 120 units, with 17 expected to be produced in 2019 to meet customer demand.
The Boeing Company senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing, Ihssane Mounir said: “This converted freighter gives operators just the right size, operating economics and capabilities to succeed in busy domestic and regional routes.”
