SpiceJet cancelled eight flights from Delhi on November 13, adding to a widening operational crisis after check-in services for the airline were halted at Dubai airport over reported unpaid dues a day earlier.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates Delhi airport, issued an advisory asking passengers to contact SpiceJet to confirm the status of their flights. According to FlightRadar24 data cited in the report, the cancellations occurred between 7 am and 8 pm and affected services to Mumbai, Guwahati, Pune, Leh, Srinagar, Ahmedabad and Siliguri.
The disruption followed the cancellation of four SpiceJet flights from Amritsar, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi on November 12 after check-in services were stopped at Dubai airport. The interruption was linked to reported outstanding payments of about Rs 35.85 crore to dnata, the airport services provider.
The latest cancellations indicate that SpiceJet’s difficulties are affecting both its financial arrangements and day-to-day flight operations. A disruption at one airport can affect aircraft rotations and crew schedules, creating delays or cancellations on subsequent sectors. For passengers, the impact is immediate: missed connections, uncertainty over alternative flights and the need to verify schedules directly with the airline.
The airline’s available fleet has also emerged as a significant operational constraint. Data from aviation website Planespotters dated November 12 showed that most of SpiceJet’s 50 aircraft were parked rather than operating. With fewer aircraft available, the airline has less flexibility to replace planes or restore schedules when a service is disrupted.
SpiceJet’s weakening position is also visible in its declining share of India’s domestic aviation market. Directorate General of Civil Aviation data for September 2026 showed the airline’s market share falling to 0.6 percent from 3.9 percent in January. The airline carried about 73,000 passengers in September, according to the cited data.
The reduction in market share comes as the carrier faces pressure across three connected areas: aircraft availability, airport-service payments and passenger confidence. The Dubai check-in stoppage demonstrated how a payment dispute with a service provider can directly affect travellers, while the Delhi cancellations showed the continuing effect of limited operational capacity on domestic routes.
SpiceJet was contacted for its response on the reasons behind the disruptions but declined to comment, according to the report. Passengers booked on SpiceJet services from Delhi and other affected airports have been advised to check their flight status with the airline before travelling.
