India-based airline SpiceJet has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Bombardier Commercial Aircraft to purchase up to 50 Q400 turboprop aircraft.

Worth around $1.7bn at list prices, the deal includes 25 Q400 turboprops and purchase rights on 25 additional aircraft.

The new aircraft enable SpiceJet to further increase connectivity to smaller towns and cities in India, as well as support the Indian Government’s regional connectivity scheme.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Fred Cromer said: “When finalised, the repeat order will increase the Q400 aircraft fleet in the fast-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region and will launch the high-density 86-passenger model of the Q400 aircraft in India.

"The repeat order will increase the Q400 aircraft fleet in the fast-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region and will launch the high-density 86-passenger model of the Q400 aircraft in India."

“This is also compelling evidence that the demand for turboprop aircraft is healthy in short-to medium-haul markets that can’t economically support jets that are more expensive to operate.”

Since 2010, SpiceJet has taken delivery of 15 Q400 aircraft and currently operates 20 Q400 aircraft in a 78-seat configuration in the domestic and international routes. It also operates a fleet of 35 Boeing 737NGs.

In a separate development, Bombardier had entered customer service agreements with four different operators of its CRJ and Q Series aircraft.

The operators include LOT Polish Airlines, Canada’s Jazz Technical Services, GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business and Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC) in India.


Image: A Q400 aircraft in SpiceJet livery. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.