Bangladesh bars SpiceJet from using its airspace over unpaid dues; flights rerouted from Kolkata

Bangladesh, on Thursday, 19 January, barred Indian budget carrier SpiceJet from using its airspace over unpaid dues, news agency PTI reported, citing officials in the know. The move by the Bangladesh government has forced budget airline SpiceJet to reroute some services from Kolkata, increasing flight times on certain domestic sectors.

The restriction, which the PTI report linked to non-payment of navigation-related charges, has led SpiceJet to take longer routes on flights from Kolkata to destinations such as Guwahati, with flight tracking data showing aircraft avoiding Bangladeshi airspace on Thursday.

The airline, however, said its operations remained unaffected and that it was working with authorities towards a resolution.

Bangladesh blocks SpiceJet flights over pending dues, sources say

PTI quoted officials as saying that Bangladesh has banned SpiceJet from using its airspace because the airline has not cleared outstanding dues. The nature and size of the dues could not be immediately confirmed.

An email sent to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) seeking comment did not receive an immediate response.

Longer routes for Kolkata flights as Bangladesh airspace unavailable

With Bangladeshi airspace not accessible, SpiceJet has been required to reroute certain flights from Kolkata, including services to Guwahati.

Data from Flightradar24 on Thursday indicated that SpiceJet’s flights from Kolkata to Guwahati and Imphal were not using Bangladesh airspace and were instead taking longer routes to reach their destinations.

SpiceJet responds: ‘Routine industry issues’, discussions on

In a statement on Thursday, a SpiceJet spokesperson acknowledged discussions with authorities over navigation and operational charges, while downplaying the disruption.

"These are routine industry issues and we are working constructively towards an early resolution. Our flight operations remain unaffected, and we continue to operate our scheduled services in line with regulatory requirements," the spokesperson said.

Market reaction: SpiceJet shares slip as financial pressure mounts

The development comes at a difficult time for the airline, which is already under financial strain.

In afternoon trade on Thursday, SpiceJet shares were down nearly 1% at ₹16.81 on the BSE.

Last week, the airline reported a loss of ₹269.27 crore for the quarter ended December 2025, citing higher costs and one-time expenses that weighed on its bottom line.

Why airspace restrictions matter for airlines

Airspace access is central to airline operations, with carriers required to pay navigation charges to use certain routes. When access is denied, airlines are typically forced onto longer flight paths, which can increase fuel burn, flight times and operational complexity — particularly for routes in India’s eastern and north-eastern corridor.

For now, SpiceJet has said it is working towards an early resolution, as its aircraft continue to operate around Bangladeshi airspace.