Brands
SpiceJet’s recovery takes flight as market share doubles
Domestic market share jumps from 1.9 per cent in September to 4.3 per cent by December
GURUGRAM: SpiceJet has staged a sharp domestic comeback, more than doubling its market share in just three months as rapid capacity expansion restores the airline’s presence across key routes.
India’s low-cost carrier lifted its domestic market share from 1.9 per cent in September 2025 to 4.3 per cent by December, driven by a 56 per cent rise in capacity during the third quarter following the induction of 16 aircraft.
The capacity surge translated into a broader network, tighter schedules and stronger passenger traction, helping the airline regain lost ground in several high-traffic markets.
Momentum has continued into the current quarter. SpiceJet doubled its available seat kilometres (ASKMs) from about 55 crore to 105 crore, marking a significant strengthening of its operational footprint. Over the full year, the airline plans to more than double capacity again, targeting 220 crore ASKs by winter 2026 and operating over 300 daily flights.
To support the expansion, SpiceJet is working to scale its fleet to around 60 aircraft through a mix of wet and damp leases, alongside the phased return of grounded planes. The airline has also signed a memorandum of understanding for the induction of 10 additional aircraft.
SpiceJet chief business officer Debojo Maharshi, said the rapid rise in market share reflected steady progress in rebuilding capacity and restoring network depth. The airline’s focus, he added, remained on improving reliability, strengthening connectivity and scaling operations in a measured and sustainable manner.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
