DGCA extends restrictions on SpiceJet till Oct 29, airline to operate with 50% capacity

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday extended restrictions on SpiceJet to operate with only 50% capacity till October 29, 2022.

The airline's departure capacity has been restricted to 50%.

On 27 July, the regulator had asked SpiceJet to cut the total number of flights by 50 percent for eight weeks after repeated safety incidents with the airline.



“The review has indicated that there is an appreciable reduction in the number of safety incidents. However, as a matter of caution. However, as a matter of abundant caution, the authority has decided that the restriction imposed shall continue till the end of summer schedule which is 29 October,” DGCA said in an order reviewed by ET.

DGCA had in the first week of July issued a show cause notice to SpiceJet for its failure to establish safe, efficient and reliable services following a spate of eight incidents within a month. The airline was asked to explain in three weeks why no action should be taken against it.

Before that, last year after a financial audit, DGCA found that SpiceJet had an inadequate pool of spare parts.

On Tuesday, SpiceJet asked around 80 pilots to take Leave without Pay as the airline finds itself with excess pilots.