The statement comes as the airline remains involved in a legal dispute with two engine lessors and has expressed concerns about the impact of grounding three engines.
The airline’s counsel argued before the court, “If a direction is issued for grounding the three engines, it will cause severe losses to the defendant.” The argument hinges on the fact that each aircraft requires two engines; grounding three engines would force SpiceJet to ground two aircraft. With only 19 aircraft remaining operational, the airline could struggle to maintain its international routes. Indian aviation regulations stipulate that airlines must have at least 20 operational aircraft to operate international flights.
The Delhi High Court declined to urgently hear SpiceJet’s plea against the order to ground the engines. According to SpiceJet’s court submission, the grounding would affect the airline’s ability to fulfill its declared summer schedule, which includes 1,657 flights per week as filed with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in March.
With a fleet of 21 planes, SpiceJet had initially planned for 147 flights per day, totaling 1,029 flights per week. However, data shows that the airline operated only 3,637 flights in June, averaging about 120 flights per day—half of the planned 240 flights per day. The Available Seat Kilometre (ASK) metric also dropped by 30%, from 772,699 in January to 545,610 in June.
The reduction in flights has led to a decrease in passenger numbers. SpiceJet carried 31% fewer passengers in June compared to January, with 499,203 passengers in June versus 723,702 in January.
In response to CNBC-TV18, SpiceJet acknowledged operating a revised and curtailed flight schedule but did not disclose the specific number of flights. The airline stated, “The summer schedule and the revised schedule are distinct. We are operating a revised schedule during lean periods, which is a standard practice when aircraft undergo C-Checks. This revised schedule has received the necessary approvals and complies with regulatory requirements. Our operations follow the government’s slot guidelines strictly.”
SpiceJet also highlighted its commitment to operational reliability, noting that it has one of the lowest cancellation rates as per DGCA data. The airline assured that bookings are only made for flights that are confirmed to operate. It expects its operational fleet to increase significantly over the next 45 days as it enters the peak period, with additional aircraft being added and currently grounded planes returning to service.