The troubles of Indian budget airline SpiceJet are not showing signs of ending. According to the latest information, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has blocked the airline from using its airspace. This ban has become effective from February 19, 2026. After this decision, the airline has to change the route of its flights, due to which the journey of the passengers may become a little longer and the financial burden on the company will also increase.
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Why was this decision taken and how much is outstanding?
According to reports, SpiceJet has not paid ‘air navigation’ and ‘overflight charges’ for more than six months. According to international standards, to fly over another country, airlines have to pay fees to the aviation authority there. For aircraft such as the Boeing 737, this fee is approximately $300 per flight.
Citing rules, CAAB has said that non-payment of statutory navigation fees could prevent an airline from using airspace. There is also news that the Bangladeshi authority is now demanding interest on the delayed payment. However, the total outstanding amount has not been officially disclosed yet.
What effect will this have on flights and passengers?
This ban has had a direct impact on flights from Kolkata to North East India (like Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala). Flight tracking data has shown that the planes are now circling instead of over Bangladesh.
Due to the change in route, the flight time has increased by about 30 minutes. Due to long distance travel, fuel consumption will increase, which will further burden the airline which is already facing financial pressure. After this news, there was a stir in the stock market and on Thursday, SpiceJet shares fell by about 1% to ₹ 16.81 on BSE.
A SpiceJet spokesperson called it a ‘routine industry issue’ and said that they are in talks with the concerned authorities so that it can be resolved soon. He has claimed that the schedule of flights has not been affected by this, only the route has been changed.