SpiceJet today announced on its website the cancellation of nearly 80 flights a day till December 31. It operates 340 flights a day to 48 destinations.
The cancellation includes flights on prime routes including Chennai-Mumbai (SG275), Delhi-Mumbai (SG119) and Chennai-Delhi (SG183).
SpiceJet is owned by the Chennai-based Sun group of Kalanithi Maran.
Airports Authority of India sources confirmed that the airline had intimated it about the cancellation of flights.
Company officials could not be reached for a comment on the cancellation.
In what could spell more trouble for the airline, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) plans to send a notice to the airline asking why action should not be taken against it for continuing to take bookings beyond 30 days. This is despite DGCA asking it to stop booking tickets beyond 30 days, according to sources.
When contacted, an airline spokesperson said, “We have told the DGCA in our response that we would like to discuss that matter, and plan to do so tomorrow after the board meeting.” If the show-cause notice is issued, it will not lead to an immediate cancellation of the licence but lead to steps that could eventually see the licence being cancelled.
The Airports Authority of India plans to put the airline on cash-and-carry mode from some time this week unless the beleaguered airline provides the state-owned outfit with a bank guarantee of ₹200 crore, sources said.
Sources in Chennai airport said that if an airline does not operate a particular slot for a month, it will be withdrawn. However, it is too early to comment on whether any slot will be withdrawn for SpiceJet, they said.
On Monday, SpiceJet’s shares declined 4.39 per cent to ₹15.25 on the BSE.
(With inputs from Ashwini Phadnis in New Delhi)