The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Dubai airport halts SpiceJet check-ins over ₹35.8 crore dues, four flights cancelled
Following the disruption, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority summoned the station manager and questioned the airline's handling of passenger communication. Regulators ordered SpiceJet to formally notify travellers of the cancellations, arrange alternative flights, and provide hotel accommodation and transport for stranded flyers.
Dubai International Airport suspended SpiceJet check-ins over unpaid dues totaling 14 million dirhams (about ₹35.8 crore), affecting services on November 12. The move led to the cancellation of four flights to India, with two additional flights that had already been scheduled to depart before the enforcement window able to proceed.
Dubai Airports warned the airline on November 9 about the arrears and stated that check-in counters would shut if the balance remained unpaid. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority then summoned SpiceJet’s station manager over the airline's communication with affected passengers.
Following the suspension, SpiceJet’s Dubai station manager instructed flight operations to cancel all remaining departures. Ground-handling firm dnata was allowed to process passengers for the two pre-window flights, SG-5115 to Ahmedabad and SG-5106 to Delhi, which escaped the shutdown.
Four planned ferry flights bound for Amritsar, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Delhi were grounded due to non-payment to dnata, according to an internal email. Regulators ordered SpiceJet to formally notify travellers of the cancellations and to arrange alternatives, including hotel accommodation and transport for stranded passengers.
The disruption comes amid broader scrutiny of SpiceJet’s operations, with the airline reportedly reducing its operational fleet and facing cash-flow pressures. SpiceJet has not released quarterly results since February, and the carrier has faced ongoing financial and service challenges, including impacted salaries and ongoing arrears to various stakeholders.