Sunbird Dispute: HC asks SpiceJet to disclose its assets

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked cash-strapped SpiceJet to give an undertaking in a sealed cover disclosing its assets in an ongoing dispute with aircraft engine lessor Sunbird France 02 SAS. The lessor is seeking enforcement of a UK commercial court's March order that asked the airline to pay $8 million toward unpaid lease rentals and maintenance dues for three engines it had leased to the airline in 2019.

Justice Vikas Mahajan passed the direction after Sunbird sought disclosure of SpiceJet's assets so as to secure the award it won from the English court if the airline failed to clear its dues. The high court will hear the lessor's plea next on July 29.

Sunbird France argued that SpiceJet was on the verge of insolvency, as there were around 16 insolvency petitions pending against the airline, and even the Delhi bench of the National Company Law Tribunal had formed a special bench to hear these petitions against SpiceJet.


During the hearing last week, Sunbird told the court that despite the carrier failing to pay its dues and other lessors, the latter paid advance salary to its chairman, Ajay Singh. "The chairperson is paid $3.4 million in advance by way of salary for five years in September 2025, when monies are owed to the world at large," argued senior counsel Rajshekhar Rao, appearing for the lessor.