SpiceJet cancels over 1,800 flights in domestic sector
 

http://www.rediff.com/business/repor...r/20141208.htm

In Short, I give the airline 2 years.

i wonder what is news here. cancellations were ongoing since at least 3 weeks. did the papers discover it now when SG finally published a schedule, or did they just get the big number 1800 that they would need to make it a front page headline. The airline is going through a tough time, yes. they are taking measures, yes. but those comments from the aviation minister were unwarranted

i agree....

but things don't look too good for spicejet at the moment....

Spicejet is being killed of by its rivals - and the current govt wants it gone!

If it matters, SpiceJet just issued this clarification:

http://centreforaviation.com/members...picejet-199994

It's starting to look like they'll be lucky to survive 2 weeks: today all flights were grounded, because nobody is willing to sell them fuel any more.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30510278

Looks like another Indian carrier will bite the dust.

It looks like their effort to take on Indigo in Q3 was good but essentially killed their margins:

http://theflyingengineer.com/2014/11...s-performance/

The promoter comes to the rescue:

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Ind...?homepage=true

Sadly, my flight was cancelled (though it showed as on time with my confirmation number). To make my next connection, I had to spend $650 on an Air India ticket as all "domestic" flights were full by the time I arrived at the airport. Air India had the filthiest plane I've ever flown on.

Oh, and the Indian papers take the perspective that the owner wants Spicejet to fail, for whatever that perspective is worth.

This is going down the KF way.. Not sure if the government wants it to go away, but they have absolutely no reason or incentive to bail it out..

On a slightly unrelated noted, just noticed that one of the BLR-CCU flight is completely off the rooster.. My mom was booked on it.. thankfully they were efficiently accommodated her on another flight, so all good, so far..

That seems very high for Indian standards. May I ask what route you were flying?

Delhi to Chennai; Air India; only business class tickets were available and I had no way to contact my driver or host on the other end.

This story is beginning to look similar to Kingfisher. A rich owner who owns other successful companies, dabbles in airline industry, may be was hoping to unload the company some day to some other company for a profit.

With the ultra competitive environment in India and some questionable government policies, it obviously did not work. If it fails, the banks which hold the loans on this company will write it off. In addition, they will not pay the salaries either to employees. The owner ends up losing only a smaller amount. To revive the company it will take a herculean task, probably not going to happen.