Ajay Singh is CAPA’s ‘Airline Executive of the Year’

Awarded for his significant contributions to Indian aviation as a pioneer of the country's LCC sector

GURUGRAM, November 15, 2019: SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Ajay Singh, has been awarded the ‘Asia Pacific Airline Executive of the Year’ at CAPA’s 16^th annual ‘Asia Pacific Aviation Awards for Excellence’ in Singapore. Mr Singh was presented with this prestigious award for his “significant and innovative contributions to Indian aviation” at a glittery ceremony attended by over 150 of the region’s aviation luminaries.

The ‘Airline Executive of the Year’ is awarded by CAPA to the “airline executive who has had the greatest individual influence on the aviation industry, demonstrating outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of their business and the industry”.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “I am truly honoured to receive this prestigious award, which is a recognition of SpiceJet’s spectacular comeback and remarkable performance. Leading SpiceJet from a near shutdown to being one of the finest airlines in India has been the best experience of my life. This award belongs to every SpiceJetter who has worked relentlessly to resurrecting a dying company and building a globally admired airline that the world today speaks of with admiration and awe.”  

CAPA Chairman, Emeritus Peter Harbison said: “Ajay Singh has been one of the most effective pioneers of India's low-cost airline segment since the establishment of SpiceJet 15 years ago. Since Mr Singh's resumption of management and majority control in 2015, SpiceJet has achieved a strong turnaround from a near financial collapse. Under Mr Singh’s leadership, SpiceJet has adapted the business model to take initiatives not always associated with LCCs, for example operating a turboprop fleet alongside its Boeing737s, launching a cargo subsidiary, joining IATA and signing an MoU with Emirates over future codeshares.”

“The CAPA Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence are intended to recognise airlines, airports, executives and the wider aviation industry for their strategic leadership and success over the last 12 months, and for helping to propel the whole industry forward.”

Regarded as the pre-eminent awards for strategic excellence in aviation, CAPA first established the awards in 2003, to recognise successful airlines and airports within the Asia Pacific region.

About SpiceJet Ltd

SpiceJet is India’s favourite airline that has made flying affordable for more Indians than ever before. SpiceJet operates 630 average daily flights to 64 destinations, including 54 domestic and 10 international ones. The airline has a fleet of 82 Boeing 737, 32 Bombardier Q-400s and four B737 freighters. SpiceJet offers business class seating - SpiceBiz – on key domestic routes. The majority of the airline’s fleet offers SpiceMax, the most spacious economy class seating in India.

The airline also operates a dedicated air cargo service under the brand name SpiceXpress offering safe, on-time, efficient and seamless cargo connectivity across India and on international routes. SpiceJet is the first Indian airline to offer end-to-end cargo services and the airline’s freighters fleet consists of Boeing 737 aircraft.

SpiceJet’s standing as the country’s favourite airline has been further reinforced by the multiple awards and recognitions which includes the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Award to Ajay Singh,, Global ‘Low-Cost Leadership Award’ conferred to Mr Singh at the Airline Strategy Awards 2018 in London, ‘BML Munjal Awards 2018’ for ‘Business Excellence through Learning and Development’, ‘Best Domestic Airline’ Award at Wings India 2018, ‘EY Entrepreneur of the year 2017 for Business Transformation’ by Ernst & Young, The CAPA Chairman’s Order of Merit for fastest turnaround in FY 2016, 'Asia's Greatest Brands - 2016', ‘Global Asian of the Year Award’  & 'Asia's  Greatest CFO 2016' at the AsiaOne Awards held in Singapore, ‘World Travel Leaders Award’ at WTM London, ‘Best Check-in Initiative’ award by Future Travel Experience global awards in Las Vegas, ‘Best Domestic Airline’ award at the 10th ASSOCHAM International Conference & Awards (Civil Aviation & Tourism).