SpiceJet cancelled its Ahmedabad-Dubai flight from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on November 13 after a payment dispute at Dubai Airport disrupted the airline’s check-in services, leaving passengers travelling for the festive holidays stranded and demanding answers.
According to a report by Divya Bhaskar, the cancellation affected passengers who had reached Ahmedabad airport expecting to travel to Dubai. The disruption reportedly continued for a second day, with passengers alleging that they were kept waiting for hours after being told that the delay would last only 10 minutes or half an hour.
Videos from the airport showed heated exchanges between passengers and airline staff. In one exchange, an employee reportedly told passengers that both the scheduled flight and an early-morning 5 am flight had been cancelled, leaving them with a refund as the only immediate option. The employee also advised passengers to contact customer support by email, a response that further angered travellers at the terminal.
Passengers told the publication that some of them had been at the airport since midnight and had not received a satisfactory response from the airline or terminal management. They also alleged that no terminal manager or other responsible officer had arrived at the site despite repeated attempts to make contact. One ground-level employee reportedly said that he was alone and did not have the authority to take a decision.
The reported disruption is linked to outstanding payments at Dubai Airport. The airport authority and ground-handling agency dnata are seeking approximately 14 million UAE dirhams, equivalent to around Rs 35.85 crore, from SpiceJet, according to the report. Dubai Airport reportedly suspended the airline’s check-in services after no payment was made from October 13.
The reported action has affected flights between India and Dubai, with the Ahmedabad cancellation adding to passenger uncertainty during a high-demand travel period. Divya Bhaskar also referred to the cancellation of an IndiGo Ahmedabad-Nashik flight on the previous day, which had reportedly been called off about an hour before take-off, prompting passengers to raise concerns about refunds.
At Ahmedabad airport, passengers expressed anger over the lack of a clear resolution after waiting for several hours. They alleged that they were repeatedly asked to register formal complaints without receiving a concrete alternative arrangement. Some passengers recorded videos and shared them with the media to highlight what they described as inadequate communication from the airline and airport authorities.
SpiceJet has said it is working with the relevant authorities to resolve the dispute at the earliest, according to the report. The immediate next steps for affected passengers are expected to involve refunds and further communication from the airline regarding the status of their bookings and services.
