Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken disciplinary action against IndiGo's top management after the airline recorded an unprecedented operational crisis over the weekend.
DGCA delivered a formal notice to the carrier's Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Elbers, demanding an explanation within 24 hours regarding massive service disruptions that saw the airline ground more than 1,000 flights in a single day, marking an all-time high for any domestic carrier in Indian aviation.
According to the regulatory authority, the airline's management failed to establish proper operational frameworks necessary for complying with updated pilot duty regulations. The notice specifically pointed to insufficient planning and resource allocation for implementing the modified Flight Duty Time Limitations framework that the airline had received approval for.
The DGCA's communication emphasized that as chief executive, Elbers bears responsibility for maintaining operational efficiency and ensuring passenger welfare, areas where the regulator believes the airline fell short. A similar notice was also sent to IndiGo's Accountable Manager.
The crisis reached its peak on Friday when the Gurugram-headquartered airline's punctuality metrics collapsed to just 3.7 per cent, according to Civil Aviation Ministry data. The operational chaos emerged as carriers adjusted to the second stage of revised duty and rest regulations for flight crew, which took effect at the start of November.
These updated regulations include several key changes: redefining night duty hours as midnight to 6 am (expanded from the previous midnight to 5 am window) and reducing permitted night landings from six to just two per duty period. The requirements apply across all domestic operators.
IndiGo has since obtained temporary exemptions from the DGCA, allowing it to revert to the earlier night duty definition and restore the previous six-landing limit.
The airline, which maintains a daily schedule of approximately 2,300 flights and counts Rahul Bhatia among its partial owners, managed to operate around 1,500 services on Saturday. Management stated that network coverage has been substantially restored, with flights resuming to 135 of its 138 active destinations. The carrier issued another apology to affected passengers. |
