DGCA orders SpiceJet to operate only half of its flights for 8 weeks

In an unprecedented action, Indian aviation regulator DGCA has directed low-cost airline Spicejet to operate only 50 per cent of its flights for eight weeks. This follows an unusually high number of incidents involving the airline, raising safety concerns.

The curtailment of capacity is unlikely to have any commercial impact on the airline owned by entrepreneur Ajay Singh. SpiceJet already operates less than 50 per cent of the flights it had filed for the summer schedule. After the DGCA order, the airline said in a statement that there would be no impact on the airline.

DGCA had in the first week of July issued a show cause notice to SpiceJet for its failure to ensure safe, efficient and reliable services after eight