Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: A UK court has ordered SpiceJet to pay around $8 million to an aircraft engine lessor in a fresh blow to the cash-strapped carrier.
In a ruling, London’s Commercial Court granted summary judgment in favour of Sunbird France 02 SAS over unpaid rent and maintenance accruals linked to three aircraft engines. The court held that SpiceJet had no realistic prospect of defending the claim. The dispute relates to unpaid engine lease rentals dating back to January 2022 and maintenance accruals from as early as November 2020.
According to the judgment, the lessor issued default notices in July 2022 before repossessing all three engines between late 2022 and mid-2023. The development adds to the mounting pressures on SpiceJet, which has been grappling with financial strain following the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet and the severe disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
