New Delhi: Under pressure, cash-strapped low cost carrier SpiceJet on Tuesday finally implemented the DGCA order banning advance bookings with the airline beyond one month in advance.SpiceJet had on Monday announced cancellation of over 1,800 of its flights from December 8 to 31, cancelling 70 to 80 flights daily. The cancellation of flights had already started in November and it was about 40 per day at that time.
In order to avoid inconvenience to passengers, the DGCA had issued orders on December 5, restraining the airline from accepting advance bookings from passengers beyond one month in advance. But SpiceJet had not implemented the order till Monday.The DGCA on Monday had told the civil aviation ministry that it would issue a show cause notice by Tuesday to SpiceJet in case the order was not implemented. But SpiceJet blinked first and promptly implemented the order on Tuesday. On Tuesday, senior SpiceJet officials also met top officials of the DGCA. “We have complied with the order,” a SpiceJet official said.
SpiceJet had initially not implemented the order, arguing that it had told the DGCA that it “would like to discuss the matter”. SpiceJet had earlier said that the DGCA’s direction to it that future bookings be not more than one month in advance, would be a “counterproductive” restriction. The DGCA may also ask SpiceJet to submit a comprehensive report on their future plans, given the financial stress affecting the airline. SpiceJet had claimed that its flight cancellations are because of fleet restructuring.
