SpiceJet cancels Kabul flights following spate of attacks at airport there

NEW DELHI: Budget carrier SpiceJet has from Friday cancelled its flights to Kabul due to a spate of attacks at the airport in the Afghan capital city. The Kabul airport faced a rocket attack on July 3 when a SpiceJet aircraft was taxiing to take off for Delhi and then the airport was again in the line of fire on Thursday.
"In view of the security situation in Kabul and its airport, SpiceJet has decided to temporarily suspend our Kabul flights until the situation improves...we have decided to take this step as the safety of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance to us. We will offer passengers a full refund and will also try to request other airlines that operate to Kabul to accommodate them if they still desire to travel," a SpiceJet statement said.
On July 3, over 100 passengers were on the Delhi-bound plane when the rocket was fired.
Security concerns over flying in and out of Kabul have become a diplomatic issue between India and Afghanistan. Indian carriers, Air India and SpiceJet, conduct "ladder point" security checks on passengers boarding planes at Kabul — meaning flyers are frisked and checked with metal detectors just before they board aircraft even after clearing checks at the terminal building.
Afghanistan is learnt to have objected to this practice of desi carriers — which is happening at the insistence of Indian aviation security wing because of heightened fears in the strife-torn country. "Afghanistan sees this is as no confidence by India in their airport security and has conveyed this feeling to the latter. But we cannot and will not take any chances with the lives of our passengers and aircraft. The ladder point security has continued in Kabul for people flying Indian airlines," said a source.