(Image source from: International Airport Review)

Low-cost airline SpiceJet has hired as many as 500 pilots, cabin crew, technical and other ground staff in recent weeks with most of them from now-grounded Jet Airways.

"As we expand and grow, we are giving first preference to those who have recently lost their jobs due to the unfortunate closure of Jet Airways. We have already provided jobs to more than 100 pilots, more than 200 cabin crew and more than 200 technical and airport staff," said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet.

He added that SpiceJet will induct a large number of planes before long.

The airline on Thursday said it would induct as many as 27 planes in a record time of fewer than two weeks.

It has a fleet of 48 Boeing 737s, 27 Bombardier Q-400s, and one B737 freighter. As on February 2019, the low-cost carrier is the second-biggest carrier by domestic market share of 13.7 percent.

Following the fall of rival Jet Airways, the Gurgaon-based carrier has bagged most of the grounded carrier's unused slots. "SpiceJet has got 24 slots compared to 20 of IndiGo," an airline industry source said.

By Sowmya Sangam