New Delhi: Several SpiceJet flights were not allowed to operate today, Friday, from Delhi Airport due to the airline—which has been put on cash-and-carry by the Airports Authority of India (AAI)—not making the required payments a day earlier. Due to this, AAI asked air traffic control, which comes under it, to stop some SpiceJet flights. The airline says its auto payment facility had an issue so that the payment could not be made.
“Due to a technical glitch in SAP, the automatic daily payment could not be processed. The same is being done manually to AAI, which has been apprised of the issue. “SpiceJet’s flight operations are now continuing normally,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson.
Airlines with weak financials and also significant dues are routinely put on cash-and-carry — meaning denied credit facilities — by oil and airport companies. SpiceJet sources claim the airline’s dues to AAI have substantially been cleared in the recent past. Comments from AAI were sought and are awaited.