New Delhi: Even as the government is all set to permit advance bookings by cash-strapped airline SpiceJet beyond March 31, official figures released by the civil aviation ministry showed that the airline had cancelled about 32 per cent of its flights in December.
SpiceJet’s market share also halved from 20.9 per cent in July this year to just 10.4 per cent in December. The airline’s market share in November was 14.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, market leader IndiGo seemed to benefit in terms of the market share pie, with its market share clocking a high of 36.1 per cent in December, up from 33.5 per cent in November. SpiceJet’s loss seems to be IndiGo’s gain.
The number of passengers who travelled by air on domestic airlines also showed an increase of 9.7 per cent over last year. Top government sources said SpiceJet will also follow “due diligence in their accounts” which has been communicated to the civil aviation ministry. Sources said aviation regulator DGCA is soon likely to allow SpiceJet to make advance bookings beyond March 31. DGCA had placed restriction on advance booking due to scores of flight cancellations but was later relaxed.
