The case was initiated by Sunbird France, which approached the UK court alleging unpaid lease charges of around ₹70 crore from the airline. Consequently, the court issued a summary judgment instructing SpiceJet to settle the outstanding payment.
As per the order, the court found that SpiceJet opted not to participate in the proceedings, even though it was given ample opportunity to do so. The airline did not present its arguments nor did it appear in court during the hearings.
The dispute pertains to claims of unpaid lease rentals for aircraft engines leased to the airline. Sunbird France sought recovery of the outstanding dues through the UK court, amounting to nearly ₹70 crore.
Following the judgment, the lessor is likely to initiate enforcement of the order in India. Sources suggest that the lessor may approach the Delhi High Court to enforce the UK court’s directive and recover the owed amount from the airline.
A summary judgment enables the court to resolve a case without a full trial when it determines that there is no legitimate chance of successfully defending the claim. In this instance, the UK court ruled in favor of the engine lessor, noting SpiceJet’s lack of contestation.
The ruling intensifies the financial pressures on the airline, which has faced multiple disputes with aircraft lessors regarding payments and lease obligations in recent years.
Also read: SpiceJet receives MoU for induction of 10 aircraft; check stock reaction
Shares of SpiceJet finished higher, climbing 4.94% to ₹11.69 on the BSE, an increase of ₹0.55 from the previous closing price.
