SpiceJet Flights Return Empty from Dubai Amid Financial Turmoil
SpiceJet Flights Return Empty from Dubai Amid Financial Turmoil
SpiceJet faces operational crisis as passengers denied check-in over unpaid dues, leading to empty return flights from Dubai.
Budget airline SpiceJet was compelled to operate multiple empty flights from Dubai to India this week after passengers were denied check-in due to the carrier’s unpaid dues. The disruption left numerous passengers stranded at Dubai airport, as the airline struggled to manage financial obligations, causing a ripple effect on its scheduled operations.
The cancellations, which impacted several of SpiceJet’s eleven daily flights to Dubai, were reportedly the result of delayed payments to the airline’s ground-handling service provider, Dnata. According to industry insiders, Dnata offered SpiceJet a difficult choice—either handle passengers or provide fuel services. SpiceJet opted to fly its planes back to India without any passengers onboard to maintain its fleet’s operational schedule.
In response to the situation, a SpiceJet spokesperson attributed the cancellations to “operational issues” and assured that affected passengers were rebooked on subsequent flights, accommodated with other airlines, or offered full refunds. The spokesperson further stated that all scheduled flights from Dubai were now back on track.
This episode adds to the mounting challenges facing SpiceJet, which has been grappling with financial distress for some time. Despite various fundraising efforts, the airline has struggled to fully restore operations. Earlier this month, Mumbai International Airport briefly disrupted SpiceJet’s operations over unpaid dues, but the issue was resolved after payments were made.
Moreover, reports suggest that SpiceJet has been delaying salary payments, provident fund contributions, and tax deductions for its employees over the past few years. On August 29, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) placed SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance, involving increased spot checks and night inspections, due to concerns over the airline’s safety and financial stability.
The DGCA had previously conducted a special audit of SpiceJet’s engineering facilities in early August, where several deficiencies were discovered. This latest surveillance is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe operation of SpiceJet flights amid its financial struggles.
