Has BD shut its skies to SpiceJet?

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, reports bdnews24.com.

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.