Airlines

SpiceJet plane forced to divert, seized by lessors in Dubai

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A SpiceJet flight from Ahmedabad to Dubai was diverted minutes before landing and was taken over by a lessor on November 30, culminating in a dramatic sequence of events.

SpiceJet’s SG 15 took off from Ahmedabad at 12:12 a.m. and flew for three hours before receiving the order to divert to Dubai World Central (DWC), the second and less crowded airport in Dubai, about ten minutes from its original destination, Dubai International Airport. Lessors met the aircraft upon landing, waited for passengers to disembark, and then took control of the aircraft.

In December 2018, the Boeing 737 NG aircraft was leased from Carlyle Aviation Partners. Since then, the aircraft has been grounded, according to data from the flightradar24.com website.

No response was received when a message was sent to a representative of Carlyle Aviation Partners, which acquired a 7.5% share in SpiceJet in February after its $100 million in dues were converted to equity. Industry sources, however, claimed that an engine lessor had secured a court order to ground the aircraft so that the engines could be removed.

In May, several lessors, including Aircastle, Celestial Aviation, Wilmington Trust, and Willis Lease Finance Corporation, filed applications with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to initiate insolvency resolution proceedings against SpiceJet due to outstanding debts. Willis Lease Finance’s argument was recently rejected by the NCLT because it was the administrative agent and servicer acting on behalf of real lessors rather than an actual lessor.

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Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.