Dubai airport operator suspends SpiceJet check-ins over Rs 35.8 crore unpaid dues

Dubai Airports, which owns and operates Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, on Thursday suspended check-in services for SpiceJet flights at Dubai International Airport over unpaid dues of 14 million dirhams (around Rs 35.8 crore), disrupting the airline's departure operations from the airport.The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority also summoned SpiceJet's station manager over the airline's failure to announce flight cancellations following the suspension, according to an internal email accessed by a source.In an email dated November 12, SpiceJet's Dubai station manager told the airline's flight operations team that the aviation authority had directed it to make alternative arrangements for stranded passengers.Earlier, on Monday, the airport operator had informed the airline that its outstanding dues had reached 14 million dirhams, with no payment received since October 13. The airport operator warned that check-in services would be suspended from November 12 unless the full amount was cleared.The airport subsequently permitted its ground handling partner, dnata, to process check-ins for only two delayed SpiceJet flights: SG-5115 to Ahmedabad and SG-5106 to Delhi. Both flights were originally scheduled to depart before the suspension was imposed. Check-in services for all other SpiceJet flights were to remain suspended until the outstanding payment was received.SpiceJet's Dubai station manager after receiving the update asked the flight operations team to cancel all flights originating from Dubai, except the two flights cleared for check-in."As mentioned in my earlier mail, announce cancellation for all flights ex DXB (originating from Dubai International Airport)...until the issue is fully resolved," the manager wrote in reply to a chain of emails.The airline subsequently circulated cancellation instructions for four flights scheduled to operate from Dubai to Amritsar, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi on November 12.The communication cited "non-payment to dnata" as the reason for the cancellations.According to another internal communication, the four flights were later rescheduled to operate as ferry services under the same flight numbers.Meanwhile, SpiceJet has also not announced its quarterly financial results since reporting its December-quarter earnings in February. Its shares closed at Rs 8.26 apiece on the BSE on Thursday, hitting the 5 per cent upper circuit.- Ends