SpiceJet, one of India’s major airlines, has joined the Indian government’s efforts to bring back stranded Indians from violence-hit Sudan under ‘Operation Kaveri’. The airline successfully operated its first evacuation flight from Jeddah to Kochi on April 30, 2023, bringing back 184 Indian nationals who were stuck in Sudan.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the evacuation mission. He affirmed the airline’s commitment to supporting the Indian government in its mission to safeguard its citizens and ensure their safe return home.

SpiceJet is in close communication with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to coordinate further evacuation efforts. The airline plans to operate more such flights from Saudi Arabia to different cities in India. SpiceJet is well-connected to Saudi Arabia and operates daily flights from Jeddah to Calicut, Delhi, and Mumbai, as well as from Riyadh to Delhi.

Since the launch of ‘Operation Kaveri’, India has been taking its citizens from conflict zones in Sudan to Port Sudan in buses, from where they are being transported to Jeddah by the Indian Air Force's heavy-lift transport aircraft and Indian Navy's ships. From Jeddah, they are brought back home in either commercial flights or IAF's aircraft. The total number of Indians who have been brought back home now stands at 2,140, according to official data.

SpiceJet’s contribution to ‘Operation Kaveri’ is a reflection of the airline’s commitment to social responsibility and humanitarian efforts. It also highlights the crucial role of airlines in times of crisis, not only for commercial purposes but also for humanitarian aid.