SpiceJet confirmed in a statement that a number of flights to and from Dubai were cancelled on Thursday owing to "operational reasons".

According to several reports, some SpiceJet customers destined for Dubai were denied check-in "due to the airline's failure to settle airport dues". Many travelers received unexpected messages and calls informing them of the situation.

When asked for a remark on the situation, a SpiceJet spokeswoman said: "A few SpiceJet flights from Dubai were cancelled for operational reasons." Affected passengers have been accommodated on following SpiceJet flights, other carriers, or received a full refund. "All of our scheduled flights from Dubai are now operating as planned."
 

Rescheduling appointments

Flights between Mumbai and Dubai were cancelled, forcing passengers to rearrange appointments or cancel their visits.


Sajay Warrier, a former UAE resident and inbound passenger, stated: "My SpiceJet flight to Dubai was at 2 a.m. on August 28." This was a personal visit. SpiceJet notified me that the flight had been cancelled owing to operational concerns, and they advised us to look for alternative choices or request a refund."

 

Warrier requested a refund and booked another flight. "I have been informed that the refund will be done in 21 days."

"Although it was a personal visit, I had a morning meeting in Dubai and had to reschedule things because my next flight was at 8 a.m. That flight was also delayed, necessitating more alterations to my itinerary," he explained.

The passengers received the following SMS: "Dear Customer, due to operational issues, your SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Dubai has been cancelled. We regret the inconvenience. You can rebook an alternate flight here (link provided)."

Another Dubai-bound traveler, S.N., stated: "I had also booked an early morning trip to Dubai. I was taking a leisure trip to meet my sister and brother-in-law. It wasn't a big deal for me because I'm traveling alone."

it received the message before she went for the airport. "I now have to change my itinerary and rebook, which is a bit of a pain. However, because I am not in a hurry, I have decided to cancel and receive a full refund. I plan to travel in a few days. My only tiny regret is that I will miss the final days of the summer shopping extravaganza there."

SpiceJet passengers received a warning about possible flight interruptions from Mumbai airport on August 12, although the alert was later withdrawn.

Several Indian media outlets reported that SpiceJet workers, including pilots and cabin crew, were allegedly having problems with unpaid salaries, with arrears dating back two months.