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SpiceJet faces fresh legal trouble, lessor seeks $8M dues enforcement
21 May 2026

Cash-strapped airline SpiceJet is facing another legal challenge.

The company has been sued by France-based aircraft engine lessor Sunbird France 02 SAS in the Delhi High Court.

The lawsuit seeks to enforce a UK court ruling that ordered SpiceJet to pay nearly $8 million (approximately ₹66 crore) in unpaid lease rentals and maintenance dues for three aircraft engines.

SpiceJet directed to file affidavit
Legal proceedings

The case was heard by Justice Vikas Mahajan on Thursday. He asked SpiceJet to file an affidavit disclosing its assets.

However, senior advocate Amit Sibal, representing the airline, sought more time to get instructions on this matter.

The next hearing is scheduled for Monday to decide if SpiceJet should be directed to disclose its assets.

Airline not fly-by-night operator, says Sibal
Operational concerns

Sibal stressed that SpiceJet is a running airline, not a fly-by-night operator.

He argued that coercive directions could disrupt operations as the airline operates some 135 flights daily, carrying nearly 21,000 passengers and employing around 6,400 people.

He also expressed concerns over how immediate asset disclosure could affect other pending proceedings involving the airline.

Dispute stems from UK judgment
Financial disputes

Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing Sunbird, sought interim protection.

He claimed that despite pending dues to creditors, SpiceJet had paid advance compensation to its chairman.

The dispute stems from a UK judgment related to three aircraft engines leased to SpiceJet in 2019.

Sunbird alleged that the airline stopped making rental payments from January 2022 onward, except for one payment of $7,088.19 received in May 2024, and failed to pay maintenance accruals from November 2020.

Engines repossessed after default in payments
Legal outcomes

After the alleged defaults, Sunbird issued notices in July 2022 and later repossessed the engines in phases.

It then moved to the London Commercial Court seeking recovery of $7.96 million in unpaid rent and maintenance charges across three engines.

Notably, SpiceJet did not contest the case, leading to a summary judgment in favor of Sunbird by the London court, which held that SpiceJet had "no real prospect" of defending the claims.

SpiceJet already embroiled in multiple legal battles
Additional troubles

The latest proceedings add to SpiceJet's existing legal woes. The airline is already embroiled in a long-standing arbitration dispute with Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways over unpaid dues.

On May 19, SpiceJet had told the Supreme Court of India that it would clear its dues once it received support under the government's proposed ₹5,000-crore package for airlines.