Is SpiceJet barred from flying over Bangladesh skies?

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has refuted reports in the Indian media that SpiceJet has been barred from entering the country’s airspace over unpaid dues.

Several Indian outlets, citing news agency PTI, reported that Bangladesh was not “allowing” the Indian airline to use its airspace due to complications related to outstanding payments.

An online report by Anandabazar on Thursday, quoting PTI, said Bangladeshi authorities had made the “decision” over pending dues. It added that as a result, SpiceJet flights on routes including Kolkata–Guwahati were being forced to take longer, alternative paths, increasing travel time.

However, CAAB says the airline last used Bangladesh’s airspace in March last year and has not sought overflight permission since then.

Addressing the issue, CAAB Member (Flight Standards and Regulations) Air Commodore Mukeet-ul-Alam Miah said around $3 million in dues had accumulated at one stage.

“There was a settlement under which they were overflying by paying $100,000 per month. We did not stop their overflights,” he said.

“As far as I recall, they overflew until March last year and made payments. After that, they did not apply for overflight. Some dues may have accumulated.”

He questioned why the issue, which he described as nearly a year old, had resurfaced in Indian media.

“I don’t understand why Indian media have suddenly become vocal about an almost one-year-old matter. However, we are opening our office during Ramadan holidays to check the latest status,” he said.

The CAAB official added that SpiceJet operated flights to Dhaka until 2022, after which it suspended services for commercial reasons.

Airlines are required to pay designated overflight fees to use another country’s airspace. Any foreign carrier flying over Bangladesh must pay such charges.