SpiceJet: Big news for air travellers. SpiceJet flights are currently facing significant difficulties. A growing number of flights are either grounded or being cancelled with little notice, while videos showing clashes between passengers and airline staff have been widely shared on social media in recent days. As a result, understanding the underlying issues becomes especially important for anyone planning to travel with SpiceJet.

Insights into SpiceJet’s circumstances can be drawn from operational statistics released for the period between 5 and 9 November. According to so many reports, 483 flights were made available for booking over these five days. Out of these, 207 were cancelled in advance as part of planned adjustments. An additional 126 flights were cancelled at the last moment. In total, this means that 333 out of 483 scheduled flights were either cancelled ahead of time or at the last minute, resulting in more than half of the planned services not operating as scheduled.

On 7 November, the situation reached its lowest point, with only 25 flights actually departing. Likewise, on 9 November, there were 102 flights on the schedule; however, 41 were planned cancellations and 35 were called off close to departure.

 

Current status of SpiceJet’s fleet

Although SpiceJet stated in its winter schedule submission to the DGCA that it would run 80 flights each day, actual operations tell a different story. Internal sources and flight tracking platforms indicate that only 12 aircraft remain in the airline’s fleet at present. Of these, three have been grounded as a result of unpaid dues to suppliers. Consequently, with just nine planes available, it has become nearly impossible to maintain a daily schedule of 80 to 100 flights, which is the primary reason for such a high cancellation rate.

Understanding ‘planned’ versus ‘last-minute’ cancellations

When a planned cancellation occurs, passengers are informed at least 24 hours before departure that the flight has been cancelled. This advance notice means the airline avoids paying compensation. In contrast, last-minute cancellations take place when travellers reach the airport only to be informed two or three hours prior to departure that their flight will not operate, which causes the greatest inconvenience to passengers.

Advice for travellers

Although many passengers book SpiceJet due to a lower fare of 400–500 rupees or to fit their schedule, this choice carries significant risk. Should your flight be cancelled at the last moment, not only is your refund potentially at risk, but booking an alternative flight at the same time with another airline could cost three to four times as much. Such disruptions could ruin a holiday or important journey, so it is crucial to weigh these risks when choosing to book.

 

Could SpiceJet face a fate similar to Jet Airways or Go First?

GoFirst continued to accept bookings even as its financial health deteriorated, which resulted in losses for customers. Airlines unable to meet payments to suppliers often see their services suspended, grounding planes. While SpiceJet’s current challenges are not yet as severe, urgent action is needed to reverse its decline. Observing how the government and regulatory bodies respond to ensure passenger protection and support the airline through its difficulties will be essential.