Sunbird takes SpiceJet to HC over $8 million unpaid lease dues

France-based aircraft engine lessor Sunbird France 02 SAS on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking enforcement of a UK Commercial Court's March judgment directing cash-strapped SpiceJet to pay around $8 million towards lease rentals and maintenance dues for its three aircraft engines that were leased to the airline in 2019.

While Justice Vikas Mahajan asked SpiceJet to file an affidavit disclosing its assets, senior counsel Amit Sibal, appearing for SpiceJet, sought time to obtain instructions on the issue. The court will further hear the case on this aspect on Monday.

Questioning the maintainability of Sunbird's execution petition, SpiceJet said that the power of attorney filed by the lessor was neither stamped nor had stamp duty been paid under the Indian Stamp Act. Opposing any immediate order on disclosure of assets, Sibal said that it was a running airline and not a fly-by-night operator.