Budget carrier SpiceJet has come with a new way to lure passengers into flying once again by offering Covid-19 tests at discounted rate. The airline said it is offering Covid-19 tests for as little as Rs 299 per passenger which is one-third of market rate.
The airline’s arm which is conducting tests, SpiceHealth, has set up mobile screening facilities in New Delhi and Mumbai where passengers of other airlines can get RT-PCR tests at Rs 499. Passengers who do not want to wait at the airport for tests can get their samples collected from the comfort of their home.
“We are delighted to offer RT-PCR tests for Covid-19 at just ₹299 for SpiceJet flyers and ₹499 for passengers of other airlines,” SpiceJet tweeted.
“Avoid waiting at the airport for your mandatory Covid-19 RT-PCR test. Get it done before you travel, from SpiceHealth, the lab that ICMR & NABL trust, for as low as ₹299 for SpiceJet flyers and ₹499 for flyers of other airlines,” it said in another tweet.
Domestic flights in India resumed on May 26 after a gap of two months due to Covid-19 curbs across the country. The domestic aviation industry is on a recovery path in India but scheduled commercial International flights continue to remain suspended amid a global second wave of virus.
However, India’s second-largest airline, SpiceJet was not unscathed from the pandemic-initiated freeze in business activity. It posted a net loss of Rs 56.96 crore in the December quarter as compared to profits of Rs 73.2 crore in the same period previous year.