• UAE’s growing passenger and cargo hub receives inaugural flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
• Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi: This event marks a new phase in RAK Airport’s expansion and is expected to be a vital driver for Ras Al Khaimah’s continued growth and development
• SpiceJet’s Boeing 737-800 given a traditional ‘Water Salute’ after landing

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RAK Airport) today [November 27] welcomed the first scheduled SpiceJet passenger flight, with the aircraft’s arrival heralding the commencement of both a new phase of operations for the UAE transport hub and a new era of connectivity between India and Ras Al Khaimah.

Touching down just before 01:00 on Friday morning, SpiceJet’s flight SG 160 from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, was given a ‘Water Salute’ – the traditional greeting for new flights that sees two airport fire tenders positioned either side of the aircraft spraying a plume of water into an arc over as it taxis to its stand.

After landing and deplaning from the Boeing 737-800, the passengers on SpiceJet’s inaugural flight into RAK Airport were treated to a red carpet walkway as they made their way into the airport terminal. There they were each given a gift from RAK Airport Duty-Free to commemorate the occasion and were invited to participate in a cake-cutting ceremony.

Among the officials and dignitaries greeting the first set of passengers in SpiceJet’s first flight were Shri Uttam Chand, Community Affairs Consul at Consulate General of India in Dubai; Mr. Sanjay Khanna, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. Also attending the event were representatives from RAK Tourism Development Authority, SpiceJet, and key members from the Indian trade industry and business houses in the UAE.

Speaking at the occasion, the officials attending highlighted the significance of the flight, with SpiceJet’s first tranche of new services set to connect passengers in the UAE to 28 destinations in India via Delhi, with more cities to be progressively added in the coming weeks and months. Among the benefits of the new service that were highlighted was the economic enhancement that such connectivity would bring to business communities in both India and Ras Al Khaimah.

“We, at the Department of Civil Aviation Ras Al Khaimah, are thrilled and excited to welcome SpiceJet to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. This new service will open new routes for us to India, which is our largest market. With the facility to connect to more than 28 destinations in India via Delhi, it will stimulate consumer demand, provide connectivity and ease to our residents, and promote international tourism. As Jerry Crawford, an American aviation enthusiast once said: ‘To most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love aviation, the sky is home,’” said Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport

“India and the UAE enjoy a particularly strong relationship – one that has been built up over centuries of commerce and business as regional neighbours and has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership. The significance of our ties is evident from the fact that we are one of the largest trading partners for each other, with goods, services and people travelling freely between our countries. These ties necessitate there being a comprehensive travel network to fully connect us and to cater for the almost 3.3 million Indians now residing in the UAE. I would like to congratulate Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and SpiceJet on achieving this milestone. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and UAE Supreme Council Member for his exceptional support for strengthening and deepening the India-UAE relationship. SpiceJet’s new schedule will be instrumental in promoting two-way trade and investment and further cementing the bonds between our communities,” commented Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General, Consulate of India, Dubai.

“The addition of Ras Al Khaimah as our 12th international destination today marks one of the most important days in our 15-year history and represents a major stepping up of our commercial operations. RAK Airport has been a vital partner for us since we signed an MoU with them last year and they are a major part of our expansion plans, which are to deliver more services to more destinations across the Indian sub-continent and the rest of the world. SpiceJet has flown with the highest occupancy of over 90% in India for a record five years now, which is a testament of our popularity and the addition of our flights to Ras Al Khaimah has received a tremendous response. As an Indian operation, we enjoy a significant amount of goodwill within Indian communities at the destinations we serve, with the UAE no exception. We intend to build on this by delivering excellent value for our new service. For example, we offer the cheapest return flight ticket on the Delhi – Ras Al Khaimah – Delhi route and this includes free road transportation from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. We are very excited to be playing a part in Ras Al Khaimah’s and the UAE’s post-Covid-19 recovery and look forward to building a strong rapport with SpiceJet passengers flying into and out of RAK Airport,” said Ajay Singh.

“RAK Airport is progressively ramping up its scope of operations in a new phase of expansion and SpiceJet is an important partner in our strategy. As an increasingly influential passenger and logistics hub, we are embedded in the fabric of the community in Ras Al Khaimah and play an important role in the emirate’s socio-economic development, as well as the wider growth and development of the UAE. I want to thank all those who have made today possible, especially everyone at the airport who has worked so tirelessly to ensure a smooth welcoming event. I want to extend special gratitude to RAK Airport Duty-Free for the wonderful gifts they have given to the passengers to celebrate SpiceJet’s inaugural commercial flight into the airport,” said Sanjay Khanna.

SpiceJet’s commercial operations to and from RAK Airport will see flight SG 160 depart from Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi at 22:30 on Thursday and Sunday, landing at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport at 00:50 on Friday and Monday. The return flight SG 161 departs RAK Airport at 01:50 on Monday and Friday, landing in Delhi at 06:40. Aircraft flying the route include the 189-passenger capacity Boeing 737-800. More SpiceJet destinations across the Indian sub-continent will be added to the schedule in the coming months.