SpiceJet operated barely half its winter schedule last week as cancellations mount

What the numbers show

The DGCA-approved winter schedule lists between 69 and 80 daily airport movements for SpiceJet, counting arrivals and departures. Operational data accessed by CNBC-TV18 shows the airline actually operated 38 flights on 5 November, 31 on 6 November, 35 on 7 November, 38 on 8 November and 26 on 9 November.

Sources told the channel the airline is cancelling at least 25 to 30 flights every day, often at the last minute. In several cases, passengers waited three to five hours at the airport before being informed that their flight was cancelled.

DGCA's official September 2026 data shows how far the airline has shrunk: its market share fell to 0.6%, with about 73,000 passengers carried that month against 5.92 lakh in January. Its on-time performance in September was 16.6%, and more than one in five of its flights was cancelled.

Why the airline is struggling

According to the CNBC-TV18 report, SpiceJet's fleet has shrunk to 12 aircraft, of which three wet-leased planes are grounded over non-payment, sources said. Employee salaries have remained unpaid since June and vendor dues are mounting, the sources added. The airline has not disclosed its FY26 results or its results for the first two quarters of FY27.

The scale of the disruption raises a straightforward question for anyone holding a ticket: whether the flight printed on it will actually operate.

If your SpiceJet flight is cancelled

1. Choose between a full refund and rebooking. Under DGCA passenger-rights rules, when the airline cancels your flight you are entitled to a full refund of the ticket cost or a seat on its next available flight at no extra charge. Pick the option that suits your plan and get the confirmation in writing. Our guide on what to settle before paying again after a cancellation walks through this choice.

2. Reconfirm before you leave home. With cancellations frequently coming at the last minute, check your flight status on the airline's website or app the night before and again before leaving for the airport.

3. Keep every record. Save the cancellation message, your booking PNR and any receipts for extra expenses. They matter if the refund drags. See our note on keeping airline complaint evidence together.

4. Add buffer for important trips. For weddings, exams, hospital visits or onward international connections, allow generous extra time or consider an alternative carrier until the airline's operations stabilise.

A note from The Trip Keeper

Many of our readers book SpiceJet for their parents because the fares are low and the routes reach smaller cities. A cheap ticket is not a saving if it leaves your mother waiting five hours at the gate. Until the airline steadies, check the flight status for them, keep their documents in order, and be ready to rebook quickly.

Last verified: 12 November 2026. Source: CNBC-TV18 (10 November 2026), using DGCA data and operational data accessed by the channel. Figures attributed to sources are marked as such. We will update this post if the airline issues an official statement.