SpiceJet’s two Dubai flights from Delhi faced repeated rescheduling and prolonged delays, prompting around 200 passengers to protest at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 since Monday evening, according to a report by Millennium Post. The airline said the disruption was caused by operational reasons after an aircraft was grounded and that alternate flights were being arranged.
Flights SG 5111 and SG 5105 were scheduled to depart from Delhi for Dubai on Monday morning and evening, respectively. Both departures were rescheduled, leaving several passengers at the airport for extended periods, the report said.
The protests took place at multiple locations within Terminal 3, according to a source cited by Millennium Post. Airport officials subsequently took up the matter with SpiceJet executives.
In a statement, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the airline “deeply regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers”. The spokesperson said the two Dubai flights had been delayed because of operational reasons following the grounding of an aircraft.
“Alternate flights are being arranged to accommodate the affected passengers, and the airline is making every effort to minimise the inconvenience caused,” the spokesperson said.
The disruption comes as SpiceJet faces continuing scrutiny over its financial position and operations. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu told PTI last week that the civil aviation ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation were closely monitoring the airline’s financials and operations.
The latest delays place the immediate burden on passengers travelling through Delhi’s airport, including those awaiting revised departure arrangements for Dubai. The airline has not, in the statement cited, provided details of the number of alternate flights being arranged or a revised completion timeline for all affected passengers.
SpiceJet’s next step is to arrange alternate flights for passengers booked on SG 5111 and SG 5105 and reduce the disruption caused by the grounded aircraft.
