spicejet Archives - Page 2 of 3

Drone Strike Near Dubai Airport Triggers Fire & Flight Suspensions Amid Gulf Crisis

Aviation Today News Desk / March 17, 2026

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: An Iranian drone strike near Dubai International Airport triggered a major fuel tank fire on March

India

IndiGo Tops India In Pilot Numbers But Has Lowest Pilot-To-Aircraft Ratio At 7.6

Aviation Today News Desk / March 13, 2026

New Delhi, India: India’s largest airline IndiGo has the lowest pilot-to-aircraft ratio among domestic carriers, the government informed Parliament, highlighting

Incidents

SpiceJet Delhi-Leh Flight Makes Emergency Return After Engine Snag, All 150 Onboard Safe

Aviation Today News Desk / February 25, 2026

New Delhi, India: A SpiceJet aircraft operating on the SG-121 Delhi–Leh route made an emergency return to Indira Gandhi International

India

India’s Domestic Air Traffic Hits 166.9M Passengers In 2025 Despite IndiGo Disruptions

Aviation Today News Desk / February 15, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s domestic aviation sector sustained its expansion in 2025, with scheduled domestic carriers ferrying 1,669.46 lakh (166.946 million) passengers for

India

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive

Aviation Today News Desk / February 13, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s leading airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, have raised strong objections to newly implemented Flight Duty

India

DGCA Says 377 Of 754 Indian Commercial Aircrafts Show Recurring Technical Defects

Aviation Today News Desk / February 6, 2026

Delhi, India: Nearly 50% of Indian commercial aircraft audited by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have been identified

Delhi, India: India’s civil aviation sector marked a significant milestone in 2024 with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issuing a record number of Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs), reflecting rapid expansion in pilot training activity amid growing air travel demand. According to an official statement released by the Civil Aviation Ministry, the DGCA issued 1,628 commercial pilot licenses in 2024, the highest number recorded in any year in the history of Indian civil aviation. The figure represents an increase of more than 2.5 times compared with eight years earlier, underscoring the sector’s growth trajectory. The ministry’s release provided a multi-year breakdown of CPL issuances, showing the progression of licenses granted over recent years. In 2018, the DGCA issued 640 CPLs, followed by 744 in 2019 and a dip to 578 in 2020. Numbers rebounded to 862 in 2021 and climbed further to 1,165 in 2022 and 1,622 in 2023 before reaching the current high. The surge in pilot licensing occurs against the backdrop of India’s expanding aviation market, where fleet growth and rising passenger demand have placed increasing emphasis on pilot recruitment pipelines. Analysts and industry officials have highlighted that airlines will require tens of thousands of additional pilots over the next decade to support fleet expansion and maintain operational schedules. Beyond licensing, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in its release that it maintained active oversight of airline fare levels throughout 2024, leveraging real-time data and coordination with carriers and online travel agencies. During IndiGo operational disruption in December, the ministry invoked regulatory powers to enforce fare caps and guard passengers against opportunistic pricing. Civil aviation stakeholders said the record issuance of CPLs reflects both increased capacity at flying training organisations and more streamlined processes via the DGCA’s digital licensing platform. However, industry leaders continue to stress the need for enhanced infrastructure, cost-efficient training pathways and strategic policy support to fully leverage the growing pool of qualified pilots.

Pilots

DGCA Records India’s Highest-Ever CPL Issuance With 1,628 Licenses Issued In 2024

Aviation Today News Desk / January 23, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s civil aviation sector marked a significant milestone in 2024 with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Delhi, India: Air traffic in and out of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is facing significant disruption this week as temporary airspace closures come into force ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations. Authorities have issued formal restrictions that are expected to affect hundreds of scheduled flights between January 21 and January 26. Under Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and associated civil aviation agencies, the airspace over Delhi will be closed to commercial departures and arrivals daily between 10:20 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. (IST) for a duration of 2 hours 25 minutes. The restrictions are designed to facilitate military flypast rehearsals, parade drills and associated aerial security procedures ahead of the Republic Day parade. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, more than 600 flights are likely to be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled over the six-day period due to the closure coinciding with one of IGIA’s busiest scheduling windows. Airlines have warned of unpredictable movement patterns throughout the affected window, with adjustments to flight departures and arrivals increasingly likely during the restricted hours. Passengers travelling to or from Delhi are being urged to check flight status updates directly with carriers before their scheduled departure. On January 19, well ahead of the formal restriction dates, three Srinagar–Delhi flights were cancelled as preliminary rehearsals triggered temporary shutdowns of critical airspace corridors, highlighting the cascading impacts of the restrictions. Regional disruptions are also emerging. On the Delhi–Pantnagar route, early-morning services were cancelled due to the imposed no-fly zone, with airlines offering rebooking or refunds to affected passengers. Similarly, two Air India flights operating between Nagpur and Delhi have been cancelled through January 26 as operators adjust schedules in light of the closure. The closures coincide with peak winter weather conditions in the national capital region. Dense fog and poor visibility have already contributed to flight delays and cancellations at IGIA and other airports in northern India in recent days. A travel advisory issued on January 17 by Delhi Airport officials highlighted that persistent fog coupled with heightened Republic Day security measures could create compounded challenges for passengers and airlines. The airspace restrictions form part of an integrated national security plan for Republic Day, which also includes extensive no-fly zones and road traffic curbs in central Delhi on rehearsal and parade days. Delhi Police and civil aviation authorities have coordinated the measures to balance security needs with transport continuity.

Airports

Republic Day Airspace Closures May Affect 600+ Flights At Delhi IGIA For 6 Days

Aviation Today News Desk / January 21, 2026

Delhi, India: Air traffic in and out of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is facing significant disruption this week as

Kolkata, India: A SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Kolkata made an emergency landing at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport late Sunday night after reporting an engine malfunction during descent, officials confirmed. The aircraft, operating as SpiceJet flight SG 670, took off from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai) and was nearing Kolkata when the flight crew reported a technical issue involving one of its engines. Air traffic control promptly declared a full emergency, and rescue and fire services were placed on standby. According to airport officials, the aircraft landed safely at 11:38 p.m. (IST) and taxied to the parking bay without further incident. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported. The airline did not disclose specific details about the nature of the engine failure. Technical engineers have begun an inspection of the aircraft to determine the cause of the malfunction. No smoke or fire was detected upon landing, according to airport emergency services. Authorities withdrew the full emergency status shortly after touchdown, confirming that the situation was under control. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to review the incident as part of its routine safety oversight, officials familiar with the matter said. Industry experts note that while modern twin-engine aircraft are designed to fly safely on one engine, in-flight engine shutdowns trigger mandatory reporting and inspection protocols under DGCA norms.

Incidents

SpiceJet Mumbai–Kolkata Flight Makes Safe Emergency Landing After Engine Failure

Aviation Today News Desk / November 11, 2025

Kolkata, India: A SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Kolkata made an emergency landing at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International

New Delhi, India: SpiceJet, one of India’s leading low-cost carriers, has once again delayed salary payments for a significant portion of its workforce, According to the report by PTI senior employees who are earning above ₹55,000 per month are affected. While junior staff reportedly received their August salaries on time, senior employees, including Assistant Managers and above, are facing delays of up to 15 days, according to company sources. The airline has cited a “phased disbursement schedule” as the reason for the delay, stating that payments for higher-earning employees are staggered during lean periods. The delays affect a substantial number of employees, with the airline employing 6,484 staff, of whom 4,894 are permanent employees. Reports suggest that the salary delays predominantly impact employees in managerial and senior technical roles. These delays come at a time when the airline is navigating financial pressures, including a net loss of ₹238 crore reported in the June quarter of 2025. During 2024-25, SpiceJet provided an interest-free advance to Ajay Singh, who is the Chairman and Managing Director, an amount of Rs 32 crore for a five-year period in accordance with the Nomination and Remuneration Committee and board-approved policy of the company, as per the annual report. "The company has adjusted the advance from the salary of subsequent months (April and May 2025), as per the company's policy. Further, this advance is not prejudicial to the interest of the company," the report said. The Airline said that losses are mainly due to costs linked to several grounded aircrafts and expenses for bringing them back into service. It has only 21 aircraft operational out of 56 and 35 grounded. Employees impacted by the delayed payments have expressed concerns over financial planning, especially as the delayed salaries coincide with ongoing personal and household obligations. While junior employees received their payments on schedule, the staggered payments for senior staff have raised questions about employee morale and retention. Last September, the airline raised ₹3,000 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), with plans to use the funds to operationalize grounded aircraft, purchase new planes, invest in technology, and enter new markets. Despite these intentions, progress has been slow, and a substantial number of aircraft remain grounded.

Airlines

SpiceJet Delays Senior Staff Salaries Amid Financial Strain and Operational Challenges

Aviation Today News Desk / September 16, 2025

New Delhi, India: SpiceJet, one of India’s leading low-cost carriers, has once again delayed salary payments for a significant portion

spicejet

Drone Strike Near Dubai Airport Triggers Fire & Flight Suspensions Amid Gulf Crisis

IndiGo Tops India In Pilot Numbers But Has Lowest Pilot-To-Aircraft Ratio At 7.6

SpiceJet Delhi-Leh Flight Makes Emergency Return After Engine Snag, All 150 Onboard Safe

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive

DGCA Says 377 Of 754 Indian Commercial Aircrafts Show Recurring Technical Defects

DGCA Records India’s Highest-Ever CPL Issuance With 1,628 Licenses Issued In 2024

Republic Day Airspace Closures May Affect 600+ Flights At Delhi IGIA For 6 Days

SpiceJet Mumbai–Kolkata Flight Makes Safe Emergency Landing After Engine Failure

SpiceJet Delays Senior Staff Salaries Amid Financial Strain and Operational Challenges

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