SpiceJet to order 100 amphibious aircrafts as part of 'No Runway' plan

Mumbai: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wish to connect the nation by air, SpiceJet is reportedly looking to acquire 100 amphibious aircrafts to run on the ‘No Runway’ model.

The budget airline is in talks with Japan's Setouchi Holdings Inc to buy about 100 amphibious Kodiak planes, worth USD 400 million, reported Zee News. These planes can land anywhere - on water, open field or gravel.

This plan is a part of the airline’s effort to capitalize on the evergrowing Indian aviation market, which is the second largest in the world. The move will make air travel affordable and more convenient for million of Indians.

Hiroshima-based Setouchi may even conduct a water landing demonstration in November.

This development comes a day after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari pitched for the use of amphibious aircrafts on Sunday. He said that Russian and Japanese firms have evinced interests in supplying amphibious planes to India which also include 50 seater such planes.

Although India’s aviation market has grown, with the industry catering to nearly 100 billion domestic passengers last year, basic infrastructure like runways, terminals and maintainance sheds and control towers have suffered ignorance.

Amphibious Kodiak aircrafts that can seat either 10 or 14 people and are capable of taking off or landing on a 300-meter strip of water or land, will be able to make use of India’s 300 unused airports.

According to the Zee report. the deal could be finalized in three months.