'No Impact On Flights Schedule Today', Says SpiceJet Amid DGCA Order To Scale Down Operations

The aviation regulator on Wednesday ordered SpiceJet to operate a maximum of 50 percent of its flights for eight weeks after several of its planes reported technical malfunction recently.

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SpiceJet on Thursday assured its passengers and travel partners of timely departure of its flights today.  and there has been absolutely no impact on flight operations. "All SpiceJet flights departed on time, as per schedule today morning. There were no flight cancellations. There has been absolutely no impact on our schedule following yesterday's order by the regulator. This has been possible as SpiceJet, like other airlines, had already rescheduled its flight operations due to the current lean travel season," SpiceJet spokesperson told news agency ANI.

The reassurance comes after aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday ordered SpiceJet to operate a maximum of 50 per cent of its flights for eight weeks after several of its planes reported technical malfunction recently. In these eight weeks, the budget carrier will be subjected to "enhanced surveillance" by the DGCA.

The spokesperson further added they would like to once again reassure their passengers and travel partners that flights will operate as per schedule in the coming days and weeks. “SpiceJet is confident of scaling up its operations and addressing any concern the regulator may have on priority," according to the spokesperson.

"In view of the findings of various spot checks, inspections and the reply to the show cause notice submitted by SpiceJet, for continued sustenance of safe and reliable transport service, the number of departures of SpiceJet are hereby restricted to 50 per cent of the number of departures approved under summer schedule 2022 for a period of 8 weeks," the aviation regulator's order on Wednesday said. 

On July 6, the aviation regulator had issued a show-cause notice to SpiceJet following at least eigth incidents of technical malfunction in its aircraft since June 19. 

"Any increase in the number of departures beyond 50 per cent of the number of departures approved under Summer Schedule 2022, during this period, shall be subject to the airline demonstrating to the satisfaction of DGCA that it has sufficient technical support and financial resource to safely and efficiently undertake such enhanced capacity, stated the letter to Spicejet from the Joint Director General of Civil Aviation.