SpiceJet cancelled more than 20% of scheduled flights in September 2026, far above the industry-wide rate of 1.15%. Around 21,700 passengers were affected and about 36,000 experienced delays exceeding two hours.

On-time performance at 10 major airports dropped to 16.6% that month. The airline's fleet has also shrunk, with only 13 aircraft active, limiting its ability to replace grounded planes.

The crisis is not new. In August 2026 SpiceJet's cancellation rate was 20.92%, and 48.05% of flights were delayed by more than two hours.