Kalanithi Maran takes over as SpiceJet chairman

Leading Indian airline SpiceJet Limited announced that Kalanithi Maran, Chairman and Promoter of Sun Network, has formally been inducted into the Board of SpiceJet Limited as the Director and Chairman with effect from Monday.

Maran is the majority shareholder in the company, and currently holds 38.66 % stake through his aviation firm KAL Airways Pvt. Ltd.

Welcoming Maran into his new role, Bhulo Kansagra, Former Director – SpiceJet Limited said, “Spicejet has entered a very new and exciting phase of expansion and during this exciting growth phase, Maran’s business acumen and vision will not only strengthen SpiceJet but will also redefine the way Low Cost Carriers are viewed in India. We wish him success.”

Speaking at the occasion, Maran said. “SpiceJet has been outperforming the industry on most business parameters and is now perfectly poised for a sharp take-off.

I am very optimistic about the growth in the aviation business which is the basis for the order of 30 new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft that SpiceJet recently placed with deliveries commencing in 2014. This is in addition to our plans to double our current fleet size to 50 aircraft by 2013. I am extremely excited to lead the airline on this growth path.”
“It is our vision that domestic air-connectivity is incomplete without looking at the Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. SpiceJet’s recent announcement of acquiring 30 Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft will help us in realizing this vision,” he added.