DGCA Investigates IndiGo's Flight Disruptions Amid Cancellations and Delays
Investigation into IndiGo's Operational Challenges
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an inquiry into significant disruptions affecting IndiGo's flight operations. The regulator has requested the airline to clarify the recent surge in flight cancellations and delays, as well as to present a plan for restoring normal service levels.
On Wednesday, IndiGo canceled more than 150 flights nationwide, with 38 cancellations occurring at Delhi's airports alone.
In November, the airline reported a total of 1,232 flight cancellations, with 755 attributed to crew shortages and new regulations on flight duty times, as per data provided to the aviation authority.
Other cancellations were linked to airspace restrictions, issues at airports, a failure in the Air Traffic Control system, and various other factors.
In light of these issues, the DGCA is actively assessing the situation with IndiGo to minimize passenger disruptions.
Despite several causes being beyond the airline's control, IndiGo's punctuality rate dropped to 67.7% in November, down from 84.1% in October.
IndiGo attributed the operational disruptions to a mix of challenges, including minor technical issues, seasonal schedule adjustments, adverse weather, increased congestion in the aviation sector, and the implementation of new crew scheduling rules.
The airline announced it would implement temporary schedule adjustments over the next 48 hours to stabilize operations, which may involve selective rescheduling and cancellations based on crew availability.
These disruptions coincide with the enforcement of stricter crew scheduling and duty-time regulations that were introduced in November.
The revised rostering guidelines, which were initially set to take effect on June 1, were postponed due to staffing shortages and operational difficulties, ultimately being implemented on November 1.
The Federation of Indian Pilots has indicated that the ongoing disruptions are a direct result of IndiGo's extended and unconventional approach to maintaining a lean workforce, particularly in flight operations.