Two more SpiceJet aircrafts to be deregistered? Lessor puts request with DGCA

Aviation regulator DGCA has received another request from the Irish lessor Horizon Aviation to deregister two more B737 aircrafts leased to the carrier SpiceJet, reports IANS.

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India’s low-cost carrier SpiceJet reported numerous technical snags in the recent past which resulted in a turbulent time for the airlines. Since then, the Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been receiving requests to deregister its aircraft. Recently, the aviation watchdog received another request to deregister two more B737 aircraft leased to the carrier SpiceJet. The requests for deregistration have been made by Irish lessor Horizon Aviation. This is the third such instance in which the regulator received deregistration requests for aircraft in the past few weeks leased to SpiceJet. In the present case, the DGCA received the requests for deregistration of aircraft on August 25 and both the planes are stationed in New Delhi.

The deregistration requests of flights have been filed under Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisations (IDERA) and sources said that it is usually filed if a lessor and airline fail to reach a payment negotiation.

Earlier, the budget carrier SpiceJet had said that it plans to replace all its older Boeing aircraft with the new Max model in a phased manner, and by the next calendar year, it will induct around 20 new Max planes into its fleet.

The deregistration process is generally allowed after the aviation regulator checks if the aircraft has any pending dues from tax authorities and airports. The government has taken measures to strengthen the ecosystem for aircraft leasing and financing in India.

(With inputs from IANS)