SpiceJet has scheduled 44% fewer flights in July 2026 compared to April 2026, triggering a severe capacity crisis. The airline’s operating fleet shrank from over 30 planes to just 11–13 aircraft, including two DHC-8-400s and nine Boeing 737s, as wet-leased Boeing 737-800s were returned. This reduction forced temporary suspension of services to Chennai, Guwahati, and Varanasi, with Chennai operations expected to resume in October 2026. Flight volume dropped from 4,156 in April to 2,326 in July per Cirium data, while DGCA records show actual departures fell from 4,812 in January to 2,956 in May. Operational and financial challenges, including delayed pilot salaries and rising jet fuel costs, exacerbate the sector’s vulnerability to wet-lease dependencies and currency fluctuations.