SpiceJet, facing financial constraints, is witnessing the highest number of flight disruptions in India, the world's fastest-growing aviation market. In May, only 61 per cent of SpiceJet's flights departed on time from the four major airports in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, as reported by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. This was a decline from the already lower figure of nearly 70 per cent in April.
Other airlines are also grappling with punctuality issues. Air India, the country's second-largest carrier, slipped to the fifth position in punctuality rankings, with almost twice as many flight delays in May compared to the previous month. On the other hand, Akasa Air, a newer airline, was the most on-time, but its performance also suffered a decline.
The surge in travel during the post-pandemic boom, particularly during May and June school holidays, has led to increased demand for flights, creating challenges for airlines in the fiercely competitive Indian aviation market. Furthermore, the grounding of planes with Pratt & Whitney engines due to a global issue added to the pressure on flight networks.
Domestic passenger traffic saw a 15 per cent increase in May compared to the previous month, but airlines faced shortages of workers and planes that were sidelined during the pandemic. The pressure to expand services amid the sudden traffic surge has put strain on airlines' operations.
Weather conditions have also contributed to delays, and social media is filled with complaints from frustrated passengers. The combination of these factors led to several instances of lengthy delays and stranded passengers, highlighting the difficulty airlines face in keeping up with the high demand.
SpiceJet's punctuality issues have come hand-in-hand with its financial challenges. The airline has been operating at a loss for four years, accumulating losses of USD 40 billion during that period. It has also faced grounding of a significant number of its aircraft and a decline in market share.
04/07/2023 Business World
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