Delhi High Court Upholds Order to Ground SpiceJet's Engines

The Delhi High Court has upheld an order directing SpiceJet to ground three aircraft engines due to defaulting on payment to engine lessors. The court refused to interfere with the single judge's directive and ordered the engines to be returned to lessors Team France 01 SAS and Sunbird France 02 SAS.

The Delhi High Court has upheld an order directing low-cost airline SpiceJet to ground three aircraft engines for defaulting on payments to engine lessors. The ruling came as a setback to SpiceJet, which had challenged a single judge's mandate to ground the engines and hand them over.

A bench comprising Justices Rajiv Shakdher and Amit Bansal confirmed that they would not interfere with the existing directive. The judges emphasized that the order to ground the engines by August 16 and return them to the lessors within 15 days stands unchallenged.

The court noted that SpiceJet remains liable for outstanding payments totaling USD 4.8 million, despite the engine handover. The lessors, Team France 01 SAS and Sunbird France 02 SAS, had sought the court's intervention after the airline failed to meet its financial obligations.