This Diwali certainly looks festive for debt-ridden SpiceJet. SpiceJet shares soared over 7% intraday on Friday following the airline’s announcement of new aircraft additions to its operational fleet, aimed at meeting the surging air travel demand this festive season. The stock touched an intraday high of INR 35.59 per share on the BSE, rising 7.56%, after gaining nearly 22% over the last two trading sessions.

In a regulatory filing, SpiceJet said it had inducted three new aircraft, including an Airbus A340 widebody and two Boeing 737s, which are scheduled to join operations between October 10 and 11. This marks the start of a major fleet ramp-up, with a total of 20 aircraft set to join the operational fleet between October and November, operating under a damp lease model. Additionally, four previously grounded planes are expected to return to service by mid-December, further boosting capacity.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, said: “These new inductions will more than double our operational fleet and triple our available seat kilometres (ASKMs) by December 2025. Our fleet expansion reflects the strong travel demand we are witnessing and our readiness to meet it with confidence.”

Alongside the fleet additions, SpiceJet is also expanding its network with several new and enhanced routes to cater to passengers this winter. The airline recently added daily flights to Port Blair and Udaipur to meet holiday demand. Besides, the airline also added daily non-stop flights from Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad to Ayodhya to facilitate travel for devotees and tourists visiting the Ram Temple, especially during the Diwali season.

The airline has also been increasing frequencies on existing routes and adding destinations across its domestic and regional network. These moves are part of a larger strategy to strengthen capacity and connectivity during the high-demand festive period.

With these developments, SpiceJet is on track to more than double its operational fleet and triple its daily seat capacity by the end of 2025. The combination of fleet expansion, new routes, and increased flight frequencies demonstrates the airline’s proactive approach to capturing rising passenger demand while maintaining operational efficiency.