SpiceJet not to be put on cash and carry mode

Crisis averted at SpiceJet as Kalanithi Maran gives a guarantee on pending airport dues

SpiceJet on Monday secured a reprieve from Airports Authority of India (AAI), with its promoter and chairman, Kalanithi Maran, providing the guarantee that it would clear dues of Rs 200 crore. For now, the airline will not be put on a cash-and-carry mode.

The airline has also been given additional time to furnish a financial plan to the government. Sources said SpiceJet has got  around seven days to make payments to AAI or give an enhanced bank guarantee.

SpiceJet’s ability to sustain operations was in danger with indications that the airline may suspend operations. The suspension would have taken place because of a financial crisis resulting from a delay in capital infusion, continuing Directorate General of  Civil Aviation  (DGCA) restrictions and a slump in bookings.

SpiceJet chief operating officer Sanjiv Kapoor held a meeting with Director General of Civil Aviation Prabhat Kumar and minister of state for civil aviation Mahesh Sharma on Monday, seeking relaxation of curbs and easier payment terms for its  immediate outstanding dues amounting to about Rs 1,400 crore.

Later in the evening Kapoor tweeted,  “No financial plan submitted to DGCA today. Objective of meeting was to discuss financial impact of 30 day booking limit on the airline.”

The airline was forced to scale down the operations further (it is said to be flying only 17 Boeing 737s down from 22-23 planes 10 days ago), stop inflight meal service and head of operations  wrote to its pilots on Monday about an uncertain future. Reports also said the airline departures from South India were delayed over the weekend due to pending fuel bills.

In his previous meetings with officials, Kapoor was asked to present a credible funding plan, share a deadline for clearing dues and pay salaries by Monday. However ministry sources said the airline did not come up with any concrete proposal. Earlier the airline management had said promoter Kalanathi Maran would infuse more funds but there were no details shared.

The main issue which threatens to ground  SpiceJet’s operations is its dues to AAI. The airline has bank guarantee of about Rs 80 crore and is outstanding is nearly Rs 200 crore.

The airline has been seeking a moratorium in payments but this plea was rejected. On its part AAI is seeking a higher bank guarantee or payment of outstanding dues but the airline has been unable to provide either.

Putting the airline on a cash and carry mode will leave the airline without any money for fuel bills and it may have close down operations, ministry sources said earlier on Monday.

For now however SpiceJet has got a relief.

“SpiceJet senior management has met us. In wider interest of passengers we will apprise higher authorities and take a decision. But no assurance has been given to them yet,'' said Sharma.

The airline has also been hit due to DGCA restrictions on bookings beyond 30 days and customer confidence in the airline has waned.  Sources said that  no bookings are taking place at airport offices and staff these days is only processing refunds.