SpiceJet's Financial Woes Deepen: 15-20 Daily Flight Cancellations, Employees' Salaries Unpaid Since June
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
SpiceJet's operational troubles appear to be worsening, with sources indicating that the airline is cancelling 15 to 20 flights daily despite operating around 65 scheduled flights a day. Several flights are reportedly being cancelled after delays of hours, raising fresh concerns about the airline's financial position and ability to maintain operations.
The latest disruption came to light on Monday, when around 189 passengers were left stranded at Ahmedabad airport for more than 12 hours after a SpiceJet flight to Srinagar failed to depart as scheduled.
According to sources, SpiceJet has been operating on a cash-and-carry basis, under which a company must make upfront payments for the services it receives. The reported disruptions are suspected to be linked to unpaid dues to aircraft lessors, oil companies, airport operators and ground-handling agencies.
SpiceJet's Fleet Shrinks to 12 Aircraft
Sources indicate that SpiceJet's operational fleet has shrunk to around 12 aircraft, of which three are reportedly grounded over non-payment of dues to lessors.
The airline is also said to be facing difficulties meeting its financial obligations to service providers. Its reported cash-and-carry arrangement means it must pay upfront for services, including those required to keep flights operational.
Employees have reportedly not received their salaries since June 2026, adding to concerns over the airline's financial health.
189 Passengers Stranded at Ahmedabad Airport
Flight SG 9634 was scheduled to leave Ahmedabad at 8.40 am. Passengers said they had reached the airport between 5 am and 6 am, completed check-in and handed over their luggage, expecting to begin their Diwali holiday journey.
However, the flight did not depart as planned, leaving passengers waiting at the airport for several hours.
Fuel Payment Dispute Suspected, No Official Confirmation
Preliminary reports from airport sources suggested that the aircraft may have been unable to refuel because of payment-related issues between SpiceJet and the oil company.
According to these reports, the fuel supplier may have withheld supplies over pending payments, with the airline's financial position cited as a possible reason for the disruption.
However, there was no official confirmation that a fuel payment dispute caused the delay. SpiceJet had initially attributed the disruption to technical reasons.
The reported daily cancellations, fleet constraints, payment difficulties and salary delays have intensified questions over the airline's operational stability.
