Should AI Still Book SpiceJet in 2026? An Honest Verdict
By Vihaan Patel (Vihaan Patel covers the intersection of travel and digital payments — Indian OTAs, airline-direct booking flows, UPI vs credit-card surcharges, RBI tokenisation rules and the booking-funnel mechanics that quietly cost (or save) you money.) · Published · 9 min read
SpiceJet has been in financial trouble for several years running. By 2026 it's still flying, but in a reduced, constrained form. Here's the honest assessment of when it's safe to book — and when you really shouldn't.
TL;DR — the honest answer on SpiceJet in 2026
SpiceJet is still operating in 2026 but at a significantly reduced scale, with an on-time performance hovering around 68% on major routes per recent DGCA data — well below IndiGo and Akasa. AI flight-search tools like FlightGPT will still surface SpiceJet when it has the cheapest available fare, but responsible AI surfaces a caveat: the cheapest fare carries operational risk on this carrier right now. If your travel is time-sensitive or you need reliability, I'd pay the extra ₹500–800 for an IndiGo or Akasa ticket.
What's actually happened to SpiceJet since 2022?
SpiceJet's troubles aren't new — the airline has navigated financial crises, aircraft lessors repossessing planes, employee salary delays and DGCA show-cause notices across multiple years. The arc is worth understanding because it explains the 2026 situation.
Between 2022 and 2024, SpiceJet shrank its fleet substantially as lessors reclaimed aircraft amid unpaid dues. DGCA imposed enhanced oversight requiring the airline to submit additional safety and maintenance documentation. The airline's Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400 fleets — once over 100 aircraft — contracted to a much smaller operational fleet. Multiple capital-raise attempts were made; some delivered partial funding, others fell through.
By 2025–26, SpiceJet received some fresh investment from promoter Ajay Singh-backed fundraising rounds and a rights issue. The airline stabilised enough to continue operations on a reduced network — primarily Tier-1 and some Tier-2 routes — but it has not returned to the pre-crisis scale. Verify the current fleet and financial position on SpiceJet's investor relations section and independent reporting from aviation journalists like Business Standard Aviation or Mint, who track this closely.
SpiceJet's OTP in 2026: what 68% actually means for your trip
Around 68% OTP means roughly 1 in 3 SpiceJet departures is delayed by more than 15 minutes. Compare that to IndiGo's domestic average of ~75–80% and Akasa's ~82–85%, and the gap is material.
More importantly, SpiceJet's delays tend to cascade. A smaller fleet means there are fewer spare aircraft to absorb a mechanical issue or crew schedule disruption. IndiGo, with its massive fleet depth, can sub in an aircraft from another rotation relatively quickly. SpiceJet frequently cannot, which means what starts as a 30-minute delay can become a 3–4 hour delay without warning.
I've seen this personally at smaller airports — Jammu, Srinagar, Patna — where SpiceJet may run just one or two flights a day. A single aircraft issue on that route means you're waiting for the same plane to turn around, because there's no alternate capacity. On these routes especially, I wouldn't book SpiceJet for anything with a time-sensitive downstream connection.
Check DGCA's monthly OTP report at dgca.gov.in — OTP data is published by airline and route, and it's the most authoritative source for current performance numbers.
Is SpiceJet safe from a flight-safety perspective?
This is the question everyone actually wants answered but hesitates to ask. The honest answer: DGCA maintains safety oversight of SpiceJet and has not suspended its operating permit as of mid-2026. The airline continues to pass mandatory safety audits. Commercially troubled airlines can still be safe — financial distress and safety are separate issues, though they can intersect if maintenance budgets get squeezed.
DGCA's enhanced surveillance of SpiceJet (which was publicly announced when the airline faced multiple incidents in 2022) requires additional documentation and spot checks beyond the standard regime. The fact that SpiceJet continues to operate means it is passing those checks. That said, I'm not an aviation safety expert and you shouldn't take anyone's word on this for critical decisions — the DGCA website publishes enforcement actions and audit findings. If you want to form your own view, that's the place to look.
What I can say with confidence: the operational disruption risk (delays, cancellations, schedule changes) is genuinely higher with SpiceJet than with IndiGo, Akasa or Air India Express in 2026. Safety and operational reliability are different things.
When does AI flight search still surface SpiceJet?
AI tools like FlightGPT surface SpiceJet in a few specific scenarios:
- It has the lowest available fare by a meaningful margin — typically ₹600–1,200 cheaper than IndiGo or Akasa on the same route and timing. The AI shows it because it's real inventory at a real price.
- Routes where SpiceJet has unique or limited-competition coverage — some Tier-2 and Tier-3 airport connections where IndiGo doesn't operate the same timing.
- Flexible-travel searches with wide date windows — on a 'cheapest date this month to fly Jaipur-Kolkata' type search, SpiceJet fares can appear at the bottom of the price curve.
A well-designed AI flight search adds context alongside the result — noting the OTP differential or flagging that this carrier is operating under enhanced oversight. If you're using a tool that just shows you the cheapest fare without any qualitative context, you're getting half the picture. That's the difference between a raw fare aggregator and an actual AI assistant.
Refund and compensation rights if SpiceJet cancels or delays your flight
This is where knowing your rights matters more than usual when booking SpiceJet. Under the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements (passenger rights), if your flight is cancelled or delayed beyond a certain threshold:
- For delays over 6 hours, the airline must offer you an alternative flight or a full refund
- For delays between 2–6 hours, facilities (meals/refreshments) must be provided depending on the duration
- If you're denied boarding due to overbooking, you're entitled to compensation under CAR Section 3
In practice, claiming these rights from SpiceJet when it's cash-constrained can be slow — expect refund timelines to run longer than the standard 7-working-day window that DGCA mandates for credit card refunds. Some passengers report 4–8 week timelines. If you booked via a credit card, the chargeback route is available if the airline misses the refund window. Booking via UPI or debit card makes this harder. That's a pragmatic reason to use a credit card specifically for SpiceJet bookings if you do decide to book.
See the full passenger rights documentation at DGCA's website or the Air Sewa portal for complaint escalation.
The bottom line on booking SpiceJet in 2026
I'll put it plainly: if you're a price-sensitive leisure traveller with no time-critical connections, and the SpiceJet fare is ₹800+ cheaper for a morning flight on a route where it competes with IndiGo, it's a reasonable choice — provided you know what you're accepting. Use a credit card, don't book a tight connection on it, and check in online to lock your seat early.
For anything business-critical, time-sensitive, or involving connections (especially to international flights), I'd skip SpiceJet in 2026 and pay the modest premium for IndiGo or Akasa. The saved ₹500–800 is not worth a 4-hour airport delay before a client meeting or a missed connection.
AI tools that surface SpiceJet without context aren't giving you bad data — the fare is real. But they're not giving you the full picture either. That's the case for using an AI flight search that understands what you're actually trying to accomplish, not just what the cheapest number is.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpiceJet still flying in 2026?
Yes, SpiceJet is still operating in 2026 but with a reduced fleet and network compared to its pre-2022 peak. The airline received some fresh capital through fundraising and rights issues. It continues to fly on Tier-1 domestic routes and some Tier-2 connections, under DGCA enhanced oversight. Verify current routes on SpiceJet's official website.
What is SpiceJet's on-time performance in 2026?
Based on recent DGCA monthly OTP reports, SpiceJet's on-time departure rate has been around 65–70% on major domestic routes — meaningfully below IndiGo (75–82%) and Akasa Air (80–85%). These figures vary by month and route; check the current DGCA monthly OTP report at dgca.gov.in for the latest numbers.
Will I get a refund if SpiceJet cancels my flight?
Under DGCA regulations, SpiceJet is required to refund your fare if they cancel the flight, typically within 7 working days for credit card bookings. In practice, during periods of financial stress, SpiceJet refunds have sometimes taken 4–8 weeks or longer. Booking with a credit card gives you chargeback rights if the airline fails to refund within the mandated window. File a complaint via the Air Sewa portal if refunds are delayed.
Does AI flight search recommend SpiceJet?
AI tools like FlightGPT surface SpiceJet when it has genuine available inventory at a meaningfully lower fare than competitors. A responsible AI assistant also provides context — OTP performance, operational risk, carrier status — so you can make an informed choice rather than just seeing the cheapest number. If a flight-search tool shows SpiceJet with no qualifier, you're missing half the picture.
What's the safest payment method for SpiceJet bookings?
Credit card is the safest payment method for SpiceJet, as it gives you chargeback rights if the airline delays or refuses a refund. UPI and debit card payments are harder to reverse. This isn't SpiceJet-specific advice — it applies to any booking where airline reliability is uncertain — but it matters more here than with IndiGo or Akasa given SpiceJet's operational history.