In what can be seen as the budget Airline carrier facing financial turbulence, the SpiceJet has once again started delaying salary payments to its staff. While employees drawing up to Rs 55,000 per month are getting payments on time, the rest of the staff, mostly Assistant Managers and above level, are getting payments with a delay of 10-15 days.
Gurugram-based carrier SpiceJet has reportedly been delaying salary payments for several months for a significant portion of its staff. Employees earning up to Rs 55,000 per month have received their August salaries, but higher-paid staff, mainly assistant managers and above, are experiencing delays of 10–15 days.
According to SpiceJet’s FY25 annual report, the budget carrier employed 6,484 people, including 4,894 permanent staff. In 2024-25, the company provided an interest-free advance of Rs 32 crore to Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh for a five-year term, in line with board-approved policies and the Nomination and Remuneration Committee’s guidance.
The annual report noted that “the company adjusted the advance from subsequent salary payments (April and May 2025) and it is not prejudicial to the company’s interests.”At the end of July last year, SpiceJet operated 18 aircraft while 38 remained grounded out of a total fleet of 56. When the airline raised Rs 3,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) in September, it said the funds would be used to clear employee-related dues, bring grounded planes back into operation, acquire new aircraft, invest in technology, and expand into new markets.
The airline posted a net loss of Rs 238 crore in the June quarter of this year. Its employee benefit expenses decreased to Rs 658.61 crore in 2024-25 from Rs 820.86 crore in the previous financial year."The company has adjusted the advance from the salary of subsequent months (April and May 2025), as per the company's policy.Further, this advance is not prejudicial to the interest of the company," the report said.The airline reported a net loss of Rs 238-crore in the June quarter this year.
SpiceJet had 18 aircraft in operations, as on September 13, out of the total fleet of 53 planes, as per fleet tracking website Planespotter.com.This is despite the fact that in the last one year the carrier has announced its plans thrice to expand its fleet, each time by at least 10 planes.Last year in September, at the time of raising Rs 3,000 crore via QIP, the airline had said "the newly raised capital will be used to operationalise grounded aircraft, acquire new planes, invest in technology, and expand into new markets."
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