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GURUGRAM — SpiceJet (SG) has suspended Boeing 737-8 passenger operations, TravelExtra reported on August 28, citing a written statement from the Indian low-cost carrier.
The outlet said SpiceJet had removed the Boeing 737 MAX from its active passenger schedules and attributed the decision to financial and lease constraints rather than a new safety issue with the aircraft type. The reviewed report did not provide the affected registrations, an effective date, or a timetable for resuming MAX service.
The reported change follows a recent attempt to rebuild MAX flying. SpiceJet returned one 737-8 to commercial service in June. On July 23, Moneycontrol reported that a fleet database listed 11 SpiceJet aircraft in service—nine Boeing 737s and two De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops—before three Airbus A320s were due to join commercial operations.
SpiceJet said the three A320s had arrived on six-month damp leases and were scheduled to begin flying later that week. The carrier said the aircraft came with crew and maintenance support. The reviewed sources did not establish whether all three subsequently entered service or remained active when the MAX suspension was reported.
Lessors Sought Deregistration of Four MAX Aircraft in July
The July proceedings involved four SpiceJet MAX aircraft that the airline said were already grounded.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) posted Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation notices concerning SpiceJet Boeing 737-8s. Mint reported that the notices covered four aircraft and that two Dublin-based lessors owned by ICBC Financial Leasing initiated the requests.
An IDERA request begins the process that can allow a lessor to deregister, recover, and export a leased aircraft. The filing does not by itself establish that the aircraft was operating when the request was made.
SpiceJet said the four aircraft had been out of service for a prolonged period because of manufacturing issues involving their engines' high-pressure turbines. The airline said deregistration would remove lease-rental costs for the grounded aircraft and would not affect its operations at that time.
The reviewed records do not establish the registrations of the MAX aircraft later removed from passenger schedules or their relationship to the four aircraft covered by the July notices.
Market Share Falls to 1.6%
SpiceJet's domestic market share was already declining before the reported MAX suspension. DGCA data showed its share falling from 2.5% in May to 1.9% in June. The regulator's July figures put the share at 1.6%, with 187,000 domestic passengers and 34.5% on-time performance.
Government-Backed Credit Remains Pending
SpiceJet's immediate cash position is also tied to legal obligations and government-backed financing. On August 31, the airline asked the Delhi High Court for more time to make a ₹50 crore installment in its long-running dispute with KAL Airways and Kalanithi Maran.
The installment is part of a ₹144.5 crore payment undertaking. SpiceJet's counsel told the court that the airline had used the first tranche of emergency credit received in June for operations and was still waiting for a second tranche of about ₹349 crore. The court listed the matter for September 21.
The Government of India approved the ECLGS 5.0 program in May, earmarking ₹5,000 crore in guaranteed credit for airlines affected by higher fuel prices, airspace closures, and lower aircraft utilization during the West Asia conflict. The program creates access to credit; it does not establish when a particular airline will receive each tranche.
The reviewed TravelExtra report and SpiceJet media materials did not provide a date for returning the 737-8 to passenger service.
Featured image: Alberto Cucini/Airways
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