SpiceJet to operate over 50% flights from October 30 as DGCA lifts restrictions

 

SpiceJet will be able to operate more than 50% of its flights from October 30.

• SpiceJet to operate 3,193 flights per week - an increase of 6.6% from last winter's time

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet will be able to operate over 50% of its flights from October 30 as the airline regulatory body lifts the three-month-long restrictions. Aviation watchdog DGCA had on July 27 capped flights at 50% in view of several incidents involving SpiceJet aircraft.

SpiceJet will now operate 3,193 flights per week in the winter schedule starting October 30. This is also 6.6% more than the number of weekly flights operated by the airline in the previous winter schedule.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Arun Kumar told PTI on Saturday that the 50 per cent ban on the number of flights had ended with the summer schedule ending on October 29.

With regard to the airline's operations, the DGCA chief said that all precautions are being taken and "we will ensure that things remain under control".

There was no comment from SpiceJet on lifting the ban.

In recent times, the airline has been facing several operational and financial constraints. On October 17, the regulator directed the carrier to analyze engine oil samples from its Q400 fleet and other inspections, days after one of its aircraft made an emergency landing at Hyderabad airport due to smoke in the cabin.

The incident happened on October 12 when the SpiceJet plane was coming from Goa.

In the winter schedule - from October 30, 2022 to March 25, 2023 - scheduled airlines will operate 21,941 flights on domestic routes every week. The number of weekly flights will be 1.55% less than the 22,287 flights operated in the previous winter schedule.

In the upcoming Winter Schedule 2022, 21,941 departures per week have been approved from 105 airports.

"Out of these 105 airports, Deoghar, Shimla and Rourkela are the new airports proposed by scheduled airlines," the DGCA said.