1st Indian LCC in IATA

SpiceJet has become the first low-cost carrier (LCC) in India to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents over 290 airlines around the world. This takes IATA’s tally in India to five.

Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO, International Air Transport Association (IATA), had revealed in December 2018 that SpiceJet had applied for IATA membership. Now, the airline

low-cost carrier to join the trade association. With the IATA membership, SpiceJet can seamlessly expand the network options for its passengers in the future. Currently, Indian carriers that are members of IATA include Air India, Jet Airways,

Jet Lite and Vistara.

In a statement, SpiceJet said that the membership and the role in helping the ambitious airline expand internationally. “The membership allows the airline to explore and grow its collaborations with international member airlines of IATA through interlining and codeshares, enabling SpiceJet to seamlessly expand the network options for its passengers in future,” the statement read.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “The membership will further enable us to inculcate global best practices and innovations. IATA also provides us a platform to closely work and collaborate with other airline members and expand our network through codeshares and agreements with partner airlines.”

Welcoming SpiceJet into the organisation, Conrad Clifford, Regional Vice President—Asia to be an IATA member, and our delighted to welcome SpiceJet as part of the 290 [-plus] airlines in the IATA family.”

Recently, SpiceJet received IATA’s Operational Safety Audit