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malQ · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 10:40 pm Post subject:

The best way to get an idea of the reality of SpiceJet cancellations is to look at the arrival/departure status online for Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and any other airport with decent online information. At a modest estimate, about 25% of the flights appear to have been re-worked, delayed or cancelled today, 19th of November.

I have a DEL-BLR flight for 25th of November, ticket bought in April 2014, which has seen a change of flight number from 509 to 223, and a change in timing from evening (1930) to late night (2200). And for what it is worth, tonight's 223 appears to have not operated.

Let's see how this unfolds. Shall keep this board posted. Have another known person travelling on SG same route DEL-BLR on 24th afternoon.

Nimish · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:47 am Post subject:

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 11:50 am Post subject:

malQ · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:02 pm Post subject:

Fewer aircraft, fewer stations to serve, fewer people to pay salaries to. All that is numbers. CASK or RASK are also numbers. Reputation loss is the biggest disaster staring them in their face. That's bigger than numbers. All past loyalties and experiences stand wiped out in the face of one possibly disruptive flight.

Lack of clear communication from the airline is another flaw in the way SG is going about things. I have no wish to travel on an aircraft that will reach destination well past midnight, for which I will have to reach airport late at night, when I can see that the same late-night flight has been cancelled past few days running.

Let us see how this plays out. Karnataka Express appears to be running light too!

747-237 · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:42 pm Post subject:

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Spicejets-Call-Centre-Log-Jammed-As-Passengers-Panic-after-Cancellations/2014/11/20/article2532763.ece

Spicejet's Call Centre Log-Jammed As Passengers Panic after Cancellations

20th November 2014

Spicejet's call centre was flooded with calls from panicky passengers, as the airline revised their flight schedules, dropping at least 15 flight services across the country. An official working with the airline in Delhi confirmed that their call volume had "tripled" in the last 24 hours and they were working overtime to sort out the number of complaint calls coming in.

The panic began when word got on to Twitter and Whatsapp that all Spicejet flights from Chennai stood cancelled. Frantic passengers lit up the phone lines and even thronged the counter at the airport, seeking clarity. Captain Mohan Ranganthan, aviation industry tracker added to it by posting images of no Spicejet live flight activity from internet plane tracker Flight Radar 24. This led to a tug of war on twitter with Spicejet COO Sanjiv Kapoor, "There are also rumours being spread by certain motivated quarters about all flights from Chennai being cancelled. These rumours are categorically untrue. There are 31 daily departures from Chennai in our current modified schedule, of which all are operating normally and as of 900am this morning, 9 departures had already taken place. The timing and lack of truthfulness in these stories suggests vested interests are at play," read the polished version (sent by the airline as a statement), of the exchange between the two.

The situation at the city airport went into freefall though, "The passengers on the cancelled flights tried asking Spicejet to give them an alternate flight, but as they were booked out, they all rushed over to the Jet Airways counter and literally fought to get tickets. Two CISF guards and ourselves had to control them," said a police official at the airport. Apparently, one of the passengers booked on the cancelled SG 3301 was told by the Spicejet call-centre to go the airport and contact the counter to "definitely" get a ticket. Alas, that never quite worked out.

Spicejet was operating 34 flights from Chennai, until the revised schedule kicked in today. There was no indication of any of this as passengers who were due to fly out on the early flights to Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad had a rude shock on Wednesday - when they received an sms stating that their flight had been cancelled for operational reasons. "It was a business trip and I had no option but to go. I tried to call the Spicejet call centre as the sms said we could get it re-booked, but I was on hold for 30 minutes twice, before they disconnected. I had to book an expensive Air India flight eventually," said an agitated Prateek Rakshan, who needed to get to Hyderabad in a hurry.

Reports have also begun to emerge that flights to sectors like Madurai (which Spicejet flies to thrice a day from Chennai) have been reduced and low-frequency sectors like Guwahati have been altered. The airline has been in Flux ever since the Q2 results were announced, following which reports emerged that they were in the throes of a financial meltdown. As experts began to mull over whether Mallya's fate with Kingfisher would repeat itself with Maran's fleet of red herrings, the airline finally responded, "This is regarding some media reports wherein it has been stated that DGCA says financial strain has started to show ‘stress’ on the airline, begins checks for safety. We wish to clarify that it is completely untrue and seems based on some rumours being circulated by some motivated intentions. We categorically deny that the DGCA has launched any safety or service check on SpiceJet. These stories appear to be planted by motivated parties. SpiceJet is filing this denial with the BSE too."

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Nimish · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:54 pm Post subject:

I wonder why Pax are calling SG, surely the airline is the one calling them to reschedule their flights which are now cancelled? What will the pax gain by calling SG?
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HAWK21M · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:09 am Post subject:

Hopefully they make a recovery as per their COO....although from the inside seems tough.
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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

The same events occurred during the initial chaotic days of Kingfisher's slip into oblivion.

Hope this does not occur again. As I stated before many times, India cannot afford any more carriers to enter the domestic airline market as they have too many carriers. The permission to operate to Air Asia India was a mistake, as the intent of the 49% investment rule was supposedly for existing carriers. Indians need reliable and reasonable cost carriers, they cannot go through this upheaval every few years.

HAWK21M · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:23 am Post subject:

The problem with this sector is high fees/taxes,high cost on ATF, unfriendly govt policies and the only places an operator can reduce costs is on salaries of employees....this then makes working in such an airline uneconomical.

There is only enough capacity in the market,if flights are not filled to breakeven point its another loss added.....closure of one airline makes cheap labour available that gets exploited by the other running airlines.

The trend of spice seems in line on that path...where salaries will be delayed, refullers bills payment are delayed, fuel on cash basis will commence and low fares will be offered.

Hopefully spice gets the required investment and turns around.

BTW have the employees recvd their form 16 yet.....
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The_Goat · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 3:16 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:02 am Post subject:

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/33097-indias-spicejet-close-to-sealing-investment-deal

Spicejet has reportedly reached an agreement with an as-yet-unnamed strategic investor over a possible buy in to the struggling budget carrier. Indian media have been awash with reports the airline could finalize the deal as early as next month.

Speaking last week during a press conference covering the budget carrier's second quarter numbers, SpiceJet Chief Operating Officer Sanjiv Kapoor said the loss-making carrier's quest for a strategic investor had yielded responses from "several" interested parties but declined to specify who they were
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Nimish · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 9:37 am Post subject:

^^ Drive up the current stock price in any way!
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747-237 · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/SpiceJet-fleet-thinning-down/articleshow/45253666.cms?

SpiceJet fleet thinning down

Nov 24, 2014

SpiceJet claimed to have 26 Boeing 737s operational in its fleet on Tuesday — down from a summer high of 35. But in just five days, or by Sunday, the airline admits that its Boeing fleet has depleted by two more and is down to 24.

On Tuesday, COO Sanjiv Kapoor had said that the airline's daily flights were down from 345 in the summer to 300. But with two more planes not flying now, the cancellations have grown. While the LCC claims 50-odd flight reductions, industry sources say its actual fleet flying and number of daily flights being operated on them may be much lower—causing hardship to flyers who booked in advance.

"We are revamping the fleet to come out stronger and shed unfavourable contracts and unwanted aircraft. We are doing this as part of turnaround process ... (Our) schedule reduction is about 50," Kapoor told TOI on Sunday, while claiming that the airline's Boeing 737s fleet will grow to about 30 by year-end.
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malQ · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:31 pm Post subject:

Today's DEL-BLR bought way back in April '14 was absolutely honoured and flight is in the air right now, though about 30 minutes late on departure, and reported to have been full.

We have one more for tomorow evening which has become a red-eye DEL-BLR and not looking forward to it, may cancel it, and see what happens.

I do hope this airline revives.

Spiderguy252 · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:40 pm Post subject:

shivendrashukla · Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:27 pm Post subject:

SpiceJet says in talks with investors for fresh capital

747-237 · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 7:50 am Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Boeing-hopes-SpiceJets-fleet-reduction-strategy-will-work/articleshow/45314338.cms

Boeing hopes SpiceJet's 'fleet reduction' strategy will work

Nov 29, 2014

With an order for 42 Boeing 737 Max worth $4.4 billion from crisis-ridden SpiceJet, the US aircraft major hopes that SpiceJet's strategy of "shrinking now and expanding later" - a reference to SpiceJet's ruthless fleet reduction - would work.

Boeing commercial airplanes (VP-sales) Dinesh Keskar was in India recently and told TOI that the delivery of 737 Max to SpiceJet, Boeing's answer to Airbus' hugely successful A320 Neo, begins from 2018 onwards and by then the low cost carrier (LCC) "will find a way out".

SpiceJet had ordered 42 Boeing 737 Max at the Hyderabad air show this March. But today, the LCC is struggling to survive by returning planes, cutting flights drastically and its auditors casting aspersion on its claim of being a going concern.

"I am not much worried. They will find a way. Their strategy is of shrinking now and expanding later. When you are hurting, the last thing you want to do is expand. Anyway, SpiceJet is supposed to start getting the Max from 2018 onwards," Keskar said. SpiceJet is today flying just 22 Boeing 737s - down from 35 in summer - and has cut over 50 daily flights reportedly due to a lack of funds that saw leasors taking back planes.
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747-237 · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 7:53 am Post subject:

SpiceJet has withdrawn yet another 737-800, VT-SZE, from the fleet.
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amd_flyer · Member Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 156 Location: AMD

747-237 · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:39 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:39 pm Post subject:

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/Toit7uL397j81VrBlrf8FJ/SpiceJet-delays-staff-salaries.html

SpiceJet delays staff salaries

Nov 30 2014

SpiceJet has delayed its staff salaries creating anxiety among its employees.

“For certain technical reasons that cannot be described in an email (but related to ongoing restructuring, recapitalization, and balance-sheet clean-up related activities), salaries are delayed approx 1-3 working days, depending on pay grade,” said chief operating officer Sanjiv Kapoor in an email to nearly 5,000 employees on Saturday night who work at the Gurgaon based airline.

“While we tried our best to avoid it, this is the first time ever that there has been any delay in salaries at SpiceJet..This will also be the last time salaries will be delayed at SpiceJet,” Kapoor said.
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747-237 · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:17 pm Post subject:

Good to know that I/we aren't the only ones confused !

The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) asked the airline on Monday to come clean on its exact status — in terms of how many Boeing 737 is it actually flying

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/DGCA-asks-for-key-details-from-SpiceJet/articleshow/45341648.cms
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747-237 · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:14 pm Post subject:

SpiceJet has withdrawn yet another 737-800, VT-SZO, from the fleet.
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basheer1211 · Member Joined: 28 Dec 2012 Posts: 271 Location: India

747-237 · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:49 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 8:25 am Post subject:

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/33334-billionaire-rakesh-jhunjhunwala-acquires-14-stake-in-spicejet

Billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala acquires 1.4% stake in Spicejet

Spicejet has sold a 1.4% stake in its shareholding to Indian billionaire investor and trader, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, for INR130.05million (USD2.1million).

The announcement comes just days after the struggling budget carrier announced it had reached an agreement with an as-yet-unnamed strategic investor.
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binaiks · Member Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 162 Location: VOBL/VOCI

So that means they may be flying around for some more time... some relief Smile

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ameya · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2014 6:39 pm Post subject:

binaiks · Member Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 162 Location: VOBL/VOCI

basheer1211 · Member Joined: 28 Dec 2012 Posts: 271 Location: India

Another B738 VT-SZG has been ferried to SIN today according to FR24. Active B738 is down to 18 + 2 B739.

VT-SGG/H/Q/S/V/W/X/Y/Z = 9
VT-SPF/K/P/U = 4
VT-SZA/B/F/H/I/J/K = 7

Total = 20

Correct me if I am wrong.

Its now head on head with Go Air.
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TKMCE · Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 957

SZG (aka Tarragon) was leased from GECAS.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:57 am Post subject:

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-unable-to-clear-its-dues-spicejet-put-on-cash-and-carry-mode-2040765

Unable to clear its dues, SpiceJet put on cash and carry mode

4 December 2014

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has put SpiceJet's operations on cash and carry mode from Tuesday. An airline is put on cash and carry mode when it is unable to clear its dues in the time specified by its vendor or when its dues mount beyond acceptable limit.

A letter sent out by AAI's executive director (finance) last Monday directs airport directors of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Guwahati to not accept cheques from the beleaguered airline, which has been in the swirl of financial crisis for the last one year.

"It has been decided by the competent authority to put operation of SpiceJet Ltd on cash and carry basis, (with effect from) from 4th December, 2014 (from mid-night), that is 5th December, 2014 (0.00 hours), till further order as per AAI approved credit policy," says the letter, a copy of which is with dna.

The exact dues owed to the airports by the airline is not known. However, such a stringent action is not taken unless it crosses the acceptable limit. Airport services like landing, navigation, parking, luggage handling and others are usually availed by airlines on credit. However, when dues scale beyond a certain limit, they are asked to pay cash on a daily basis.

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binaiks · Member Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 162 Location: VOBL/VOCI

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

basheer1211 · Member Joined: 28 Dec 2012 Posts: 271 Location: India

747-237 · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:48 pm Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/SpiceJet-cuts-fleet-size-to-stay-smaller/articleshow/45383688.cms

SpiceJet cuts fleet size, to stay smaller

Dec 5, 2014

SpiceJet has cut the size of its fleet to 22-24 Boeing planes from 35 in September and will maintain that for "the near and medium term", its chief operating officer said, as the loss-making budget carrier looks to cut costs.

The airline, which has lost money for five consecutive quarters, had intended to reduce the size of its fleet for a short time and then start expanding again early next year, but has decided that it must stay smaller for longer, Sanjiv Kapoor said.

"The decision to shrink is part of our restructuring," Kapoor said in a telephone interview.
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binaiks · Member Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 162 Location: VOBL/VOCI

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/DGCA-asks-SpiceJet-to-limit-advance-booking-to-a-month/articleshow/45387049.cms

More bad news for SpiceJet

DGCA asks SpiceJet to limit advance booking to a month

NEW DELHI: Troubled low cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet has been barred from taking more than a month's advance booking from passengers at any given time with immediate effect. Which means, the airline will now be allowed to sell tickets for travel within a month. For instance, if someone tries to book a SpiceJet ticket on December 15, 2014, he or she can be sold tickets for flights upto January 14, 2015.

Taking a stern view of the constant fleet reduction and rampant flight cancellations, the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) on Friday evening directed the LCC to stop taking fresh bookings for its cancelled flights. The regulator has also withdrawn the cancelled flight slots of SpiceJet.

"SpiceJet had 33 Boeing 737s some months back and now it has only 20 of those planes flying. It used to operate 332 daily flights as on September 1, 2014. As of now, it is operating 239 daily flights (a reduction of 93 flights). One of the leasors from whom the LCC has taken Boeings on lease, BBAM, wants to take back five more 737s," said a senior DGCA official.

To make matters worse, a team of Canadian officials met the DGCA brass on Friday and sought the return of the 15 Q400 with SpiceJet on account of unpaid rentals. Only 12 of these planes are flying and the rest are grounded.

"Their fleet strength has been constantly falling from 24 to 22 to 20 Boeings now within weeks. As many as 132 pilots — 115 commanders and 17 co-pilots — have resigned and are serving notice periods. The LCC has dues of Rs 1,600 crore in all. Due to these factors and the uncertainty surrounding the airline, we have directed it to stop taking long term advance bookings," said the official. The airline will have to give a 'convincing' payment schedule to the regulator for clearing the dues by mid-December.

The regulator got these details on the airline from LCC Sanjiv Kapoor on Wednesday, following which it drafted the series of steps to take for protecting consumer interest and to ensure that SpiceJet does not compromise with the airworthiness of its planes.

The regulator will now maintain strict checks on whatever number of planes SpiceJet flies. It will also monitor that the airline does not ask its pilots and cabin crew to work more than the permitted number of hours in wake of the exodus from the airline.

"The airline has been asked to give the delayed salary of last month to all employees by December 15. Further, it will have to pay salary by the seventh of every month to all employees," said the official.

The LCC has been asked to refund passengers who booked seats on its cancelled flights within a month. A daily report will have to be submitted to the DGCA to report progress on this front. The first compliance report for these orders will have to be given on Monday (December Cool

. DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar confirmed that all these directives were "effective immediately".
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harshwcam3 · Member Joined: 18 Oct 2012 Posts: 114

These are the same tell tale signs of what happened with IT in late 2011.