- Airport action
- Dubai check-ins suspended 12 Nov
- Dues
- 14 million dirhams (Rs 35.8 crore)
- Cancelled
- 4 flights: Amritsar, Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi
- Delhi advisory
- Some SpiceJet flights may be impacted
- Do now
- Check status twice; rebook critical trips
Flying SpiceJet to or from Dubai, or through Delhi, in the next few days? Check your flight status directly with the airline before leaving home. Dubai International Airport suspended SpiceJet check-in services on 12 November over 14 million dirhams (about Rs 35.8 crore) in unpaid dues, forcing four flight cancellations, and Delhi airport issued an advisory on 13 November warning that some SpiceJet flights may be impacted by the airline's operational challenges.
What happened in Dubai
Dubai Airports had warned SpiceJet on 9 November that arrears had climbed to 14 million dirhams with no payments made since 13 October, and that check-in counters would shut if the balance was not cleared. The suspension took effect on 12 November after a final deadline passed. Only two flights, SG-5115 to Ahmedabad and SG-5106 to Delhi, escaped the shutdown because they were due to depart before the enforcement window. Four further departures bound for Amritsar, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi were grounded; non-payment to ground-handling agency dnata triggered the cancellations, according to an internal email reported by Business Today. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority summoned SpiceJet's station manager and ordered the airline to formally notify travellers, arrange alternative flights, and provide hotel accommodation and transport for stranded passengers.
The Delhi advisory
On 13 November, Delhi International Airport Limited issued a passenger advisory saying that due to operational challenges being faced by SpiceJet, some flights may be impacted. It asked passengers to contact SpiceJet directly for the latest information on flight status and travel plans, without specifying how many flights could be affected.
The bigger picture
SpiceJet is operating roughly 65 scheduled flights a day while cancelling 15 to 20, with others delayed three to five hours. Its operational fleet is about 12 aircraft, three grounded over payment disputes, and outstanding dues to lessors, fuel suppliers, airports and ground handlers have pushed it onto advance-payment terms for essential services. The airline has not released quarterly results since February.
What passengers should do
If you are booked on SpiceJet, especially to or from Dubai or via Delhi, check the flight status the night before and again before leaving for the airport, and keep the airline's contact channels handy since notifications have been unreliable. If stranded, ask in writing for rebooking or a full refund plus accommodation where regulators have mandated it, and keep every message and receipt for refund and insurance claims. For time-critical international trips, moving to another carrier now is the safer choice. This situation is changing daily; treat any SpiceJet booking in the coming weeks as uncertain until the airline stabilises payments.
We track airline disruptions that affect Indian travellers and update this page as the situation develops. Last verified: 13 November 2026 against Business Today (13 November) and Economic Times (13 November) reports.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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