SpiceJet Suspends All Chennai Flight Operations Due To Aircraft Shortage

SpiceJet has suspended all of its flight operations from Chennai starting at the beginning of July due to a severe shortage of aircraft and ongoing operational and financial challenges. The airline, which previously operated 12 daily flights from the city, expects to resume its Chennai services in October as it gradually rebuilds its fleet.

Until April, the airline connected Chennai to several major domestic destinations, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Shivamogga. The suspension of these 12 daily flights has left local passengers facing increased flight cancellations, prolonged delays, and fewer travel options.

Chennai is not the only city impacted by the airline's crisis, as services to Guwahati and Varanasi have also been temporarily halted. Nationwide, SpiceJet scheduled 44 percent fewer flights in July compared to April. Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows that the carrier's actual scheduled departures dropped from 4,812 in January to 2,956 in May.

The airline’s operational fleet has shrunk to just 12 or 13 active aircraft, down from more than 30 a few months ago. This decline coincided with the return of leased aircraft to lessors, compounded by rising aviation turbine fuel prices and a depreciating rupee.

A SpiceJet spokesperson stated that several aircraft are currently undergoing scheduled maintenance, including routine checks and C-checks. The airline expects to add three aircraft in July, two in August, and four more across September and October. Additionally, SpiceJet plans to lease 10 aircraft each in October and November to expand capacity ahead of the peak travel season.

The carrier has faced prolonged liquidity challenges, which have resulted in delayed employee salary payments and delayed deposits of provident fund contributions. In September 2024, SpiceJet raised ₹3,000 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement and ₹736 crore from a previous funding round to help revive grounded aircraft and settle liabilities.