SpiceJet Cancels Flight Just Before Boarding at Delhi Airport; Passengers Protest

Passengers on a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Darbhanga experienced a heated confrontation with airline officials after the flight was unexpectedly canceled just five minutes before boarding. A video shared on social media shows passengers loudly protesting at the boarding gate in Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3, chanting “SpiceJet murdabad, murdabad.”

According to an NDTV report, frequent flyers on the Delhi-Darbhanga route have claimed that the airline has been repeatedly canceling flights on this route in recent months, often right before boarding. This has led to growing frustration among passengers.

The airline has not yet released a statement regarding the incident. Last month, the DGCA placed SpiceJet under increased scrutiny following an audit that revealed several deficiencies. Despite multiple fundraising efforts over the past year, SpiceJet has struggled to fully resume operations, lagging behind competitors IndiGo and Air India in market share.

### SpiceJet Limited to Raise Funds Through Postal Ballot

On September 10, SpiceJet announced that Carlyle Group’s commercial aviation investment unit would write off $40.2 million of the airline’s lease arrears and convert $30 million of those arrears into equity. This conversion, priced at ₹100 ($1.19) per share, represented a 56 percent premium over SpiceJet’s closing price on September 10, significantly increasing Carlyle Aviation’s stake in the airline.

According to CNBCTV18, SpiceJet Limited confirmed its approval to raise funds through a postal ballot held on September 13, 2024. The approval, which received 99.8 percent support, is a significant step in the embattled airline’s broader turnaround strategy. The financially struggling airline had previously announced its intention to raise ₹2,500 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) and an additional ₹736 crore from existing warrants and contributions from promoters.