DGCA says cash-strapped SpiceJet flights to operate under its ‘enhanced surveillance’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Cash-strapped SpiceJet will now operate under “enhanced surveillance” of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The regulator had conducted a special audit of the airline’s engineering on August 7 and 8, 2024 which revealed “certain deficiencies.”
“Based on reports of cancellation of flights and financial stress being experienced by Spicejet Airlines, a special audit of Spicejet engineering facilities was conducted on 7^th and 8^th August 2024 which has revealed certain deficiencies,” the DGCA said in a statement Thursday — hours after Dubai Airport yet again stopped boarding of SpiceJet flights over dues and some Dubai-bound flights of the airline could not even overfly Pakistan due to overflying charges that need to be paid for the same.

“After a series of occurrences reported on the Spicejet fleet in 2022, a special drive of spot checks was undertaken during which Spicejet was permitted to release aircraft for operations only after confirming to DGCA that all reported defects/ malfunctions had been rectified. During the year 2023, based on reports of the airline being under financial stress, it was again placed under enhanced surveillance,” the statement said.

“In light of the past record and the special audit carried out in August 2024, Spicejet has once again been placed under enhanced surveillance with immediate effect. This would entail increase in number of spot checks/ night surveillance with a view to ensure safety of operations,” it added.