0S 314 – Bangalore to Hyderabad

The Route:

Well, i don’t usually write trip reports but since so many new carriers are coming up in India and most of them dont get a mention on forums. I thought i would write this one on the Indian LOCO SpiceJet.

SpiceJet started operations about 3 years back and currently operates a fleet of 11 B738’s. My flight originated from the southern city of Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka.Bangalore is India’s IT hub with internationals such as Emiartes, LH and BA operting into the city. From Bangalore i was flying to Hyderabad, another city in South India, and an up-coming IT hub. The flying time was 1 hour.

Similar to LHR this year, New Delhi gets its share of heavy fod during the winter seasons. The fog frequently brings the airport to a standstill affecting incoming and outbound flights. Due to this delay in Delhi our flight was 40 minutes late, a negligable delay but still. After checking into the airport, which was surprisingly smooth through all the checks we waiting in the lounge till our flight was announced. Due to the increase in the number of operators the airport has standning bays at quite remote places now, mostly at areas that are or were under military use. Plus farther the standning area is the cheaper it is to the airline to park. So our flight was a decent bus ride away.

As we reached the first thing i noticed was the radar nose cone of the 738 was different, it was in 9W colours instead of 0S, possibly a last minute change for the airline. We boarded the aircraft was was in 3 X 3 config. single aisle. Cramped up seats, although i got the seat next to the emergency exit hence giving good leg room.

We had a smooth take off at 5:40 pm for the 1 hour flight. SpiceJet, being LOCO does not serve anything on-board, neither does it sell any food. But the flight was stable throughout, cruised at 27,000 ft without any interference by the weather. Although there were quite a few first time fliers around me, a positive note that the LOCO’s have bought to the Indian economy. A lot of people are now flying thanks to these carriers.

I myself do not prefer LOCO’s, atleast Indian loco’s after a few horrid flights with India’s first LOCO carrier, Air Deccan, and i still choose not to fly with them. But SpiceJet brought a good surprise with decent ground staff with precise information, SMS’ing me about the 40 minute delay etc.

Like many other airlines SpiceJet also has alot of foreign pilots, due to a sudden shortage of pilots in India.

The landing was the only part that was a bit uncomfortable. Coming in too fast the 738 was literally thumped onto the ground and almost used the whole runway to stop, reminded me of some flights that i took with Aeroflot and hence me, coming to know that the pilot was Russian.

The airline that started 3 years ago, has already carried over 3 million passengers and is hoping to break even this year which is a formadable achievment.

SpiceJet will add another B738 next month while it waits for its new B739s that will start delivery in November this year.