SpiceJet plans to demand compensation from Boeing due to grounded 737 MAX aircraft.
The airline has been hit the hardest in India with dozens of cancellations since the country’s air regulator closed its airspace to the troubled jet.
SpiceJet has 12 737 MAX aircraft and has committed to the fuel efficient model in a big way.
It has an outstanding order of 192 and was due to receive another 15 Boeing 737 MAX jets this year.
However, the airline doesn’t expect major disruption going forward.
It will continue to cancel flights only on high traffic routes to minimise passenger inconvebience and will wet lease two older model Boeing 737s.
Boeing is said to be making major changes to the flight control systems on 737 MAX aircraft which it expects to be completed by the end of April.
Until then, the aircraft will likely stay grounded.
"As of now, we don’t have any clarity when the ban will be lifted," said BS Bhullar, chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Norwegian Air also said it will make a claim against Boeing.
Many other carriers are also holding off on firming up billion dollar orders for MAX jets until there is more clarity about the issues which contributed to the two recent deadly crashes.
