SpiceJet gets slots at London's Heathrow airport

SpiceJet has secured slots at London Heathrow Airport to operate flights effective September 1, 2020, continuing on its aggressive international expansion despite COVID-19 limitations.

"This is presently under the bubble arrangement between India and UK and effective up to the end of summer schedule i.e. October 23, 2020," the company said in a statement on August 4.

A slot allows an airline to land and depart at a particular airport, at a designated time. SpiceJet is the first low-cost airline from India to get this facility in Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world.

This follows the low-cost airline getting the rights to operate flights to the UK. In a statement on July 24, SpiceJet had said, "We would like to further inform you that in terms of the Air Services Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the United Kingdom, SpiceJet has been designated as Indian scheduled carrier to operate on agreed services between India and the UK."

A day before, the carrier had got similar rights to operate flights to the US.

On its Heathrow slots, SpiceJet said that these will be extended when regular operations resume. "The company is also in advance discussion to secure slots for winter schedule for regular operations," it added.

"London is one of the busiest long-haul destinations from India and this is a huge milestone for SpiceJet," said Chairman & Managing Director Ajay Singh. "The identical arrival/departure slots that we have secured at Heathrow should suit the convenience of our passengers perfectly,”he added.

On August 1, the airline had chartered a flight from Amsterdam to Bengaluru, claiming it to be its first wide-body operation. But many from the industry contested the claim.

Also read: Explained: The Amsterdam to Bengaluru flight that was SpiceJet's. Or was it?

The airline has applied for an Airbus A330 aircraft on wet lease from Hi Fly, a Portuguese charter airline. The Indian airline will use the plane for its long haul operations.