Passengers stranded, as SpiceJet operations grounded

New Delhi, Dec 17: Several hundred passengers were stranded across India, as fights of budget carrier SpiceJet were grounded Wednesday. The operations ceased as the oil marketing company (OMCs) which supply fuel to the company refused to provide any credit over non-payment of dues. According to sources at the airline, all flights have been grounded and that the company is in touch with the OMCs to resolve the issue. The company currently has around 250 departures per day with maximum operations being carried out from Delhi and Mumbai. Meanwhile, the scrip of the beleaguered airline has crashed by four percent on the Bombay Stock exchange (BSE) Wednesday at Rs.13.35 per equity. The airline recently reported a Rs.310 crore loss for the quarter ended September, down from the Rs.560 crore loss in the corresponding period of last fiscal. It is now operating only 26 aircraft from 35 earlier this year.