Troubled budget carrier SpiceJet's dues to foreign and Indian vendors, airport operators and oil companies grew swiftly from Rs 990 crore (Rs 9.90 billion) to Rs 1,230 crore (Rs 12.30 billion) in a matter of 18 days till December 10, Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
The airline's dues to foreign vendors, including lessors of aircraft and maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities, rose from Rs 624 crore (Rs 6.24 billion)on November 24 to Rs 670 crore (Rs 6.70 billion) on December five and Rs 742 crore (Rs 7.42 billion) on December 10, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said.
Replying to a written question, he said the airline's outstandings to Indian vendors, including oil companies, Airports Authority of India, private airport operators and ground handling agencies, stood at Rs 366 crore (Rs 3.66 billion) on November 24, rose to Rs 395 crore (Rs 3.95 billion) on December five and Rs 488 crore (Rs 4.88 billion) on December 10.
The total number of SpiceJet aircraft fell from 35 on November 24 to 30 on December 10, while the number of its pilots declined by 10 between November 24 and December five, Sharma said.
The number of flights operated by the no-frill carrier declined from 332 on September one to 328 on October one, 305 on November one and 240 on December 10.
The decline of the flights were due to cancellations or combining of flights.
The Minister said the aviation regulator DGCA had sought details from SpiceJet regarding the reduction in the number of flights, aircraft and pilots.
