Dubai Airports, the operator of Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, has suspended passenger check-in services for cash-strapped Indian carrier SpiceJet over unpaid dues amounting to roughly 14 million UAE dirhams (approximately ₹35.85 crore).
The suspension took effect on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after Dubai Airports allowed check-in for two scheduled departures to Ahmedabad and Delhi, forcing the airline to cancel four subsequent India-bound flights and operate them as empty ferry services.
Payment Default & Flight Cancellations in Dubai
According to officials familiar with the matter, Dubai Airports notified SpiceJet via email on November 12 that it had not received any payments since October 13, warning that check-in services were being halted to prevent further financial exposure:
- Flights Disrupted: SpiceJet cancelled four scheduled departures from Dubai to Amritsar, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Delhi on November 12, instructing flight operations to halt further departures until the dispute is resolved. An internal airline communication cited unpaid dues to ground-handling agency dnata.
- SpiceJet’s Official Response: A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed that the carrier is engaging with airport authorities to clear the logjam, stating: “We have adequate bank guarantee cover in place and are working to ensure that the issue is sorted out at the earliest.”
Mounting Operational & Financial Strain
The Dubai suspension underscores deepening operational headwinds for SpiceJet, whose fleet and domestic market presence have contracted sharply through 2026:
- Shrinking Fleet & Market Share: SpiceJet’s total fleet has narrowed to roughly 12 aircraft, with only nine operational, according to industry reports. Its domestic market share fell from 3.9% in January to 0.6% in September 2026, as monthly domestic passenger volume dropped from nearly 592,000 to around 73,000.
- Cancellations & Unpaid Supplier Dues: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data shows SpiceJet cancelled 20.29% of its scheduled flights in September, while its on-time performance at major airports slipped to 16.6%. Regulatory filings further revealed that ₹63.03 crore owed to small businesses remained unpaid beyond the mandated 45-day window during the April–September 2026 period.
