DGCA Moves to Deregister 4 SpiceJet 737-8 MAX Jets as Lessors Seek Repossession
Updated
Updated · Mint · Jul 13
DGCA Moves to Deregister 4 SpiceJet 737-8 MAX Jets as Lessors Seek Repossession
3 articles · Updated · Mint · Jul 13
Summary
Four grounded SpiceJet Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft entered India’s deregistration process after the DGCA posted Idera notices tied to repossession requests received on July 9.
ICBC-linked lessors are seeking the move after alleged lease-payment defaults; SpiceJet said the jets have long been out of service because of LEAP-1B engine high-pressure turbine issues.
SpiceJet said losing the aircraft will not disrupt current operations and will cut lease rentals, but legal experts said deregistration would still shrink the carrier’s fleet and clear the way for export or re-leasing.
The four aircraft are parked in Hyderabad, Amritsar and Delhi, while SpiceJet’s broader fleet remains strained with 11 operational aircraft, 42 parked and July domestic departures down about 28% from a year earlier.
The action adds pressure on an airline that reported a ₹1,138.15 crore net loss for the first nine months of FY26, underscoring tougher creditor enforcement in India’s aviation market.