IndiGo Faces Major Flight Cancellations Amid Ongoing Operational Crisis
IndiGo's Flight Operations in Turmoil
Mumbai: On Monday, over 250 flights operated by IndiGo were cancelled at both Delhi and Bengaluru airports, marking the seventh consecutive day of disruptions for the airline, according to sources.
In a recent development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras an extension until 6 PM on Monday to respond to a show cause notice regarding the ongoing operational issues.
The DGCA's notice, issued on Saturday, highlighted significant operational failures, indicating serious lapses in planning and resource management, and required a response within 24 hours.
On Monday alone, IndiGo cancelled 251 flights, with 134 cancellations at Delhi airport (75 departures and 59 arrivals) and 117 at Bengaluru airport (65 arrivals and 62 departures).
The airline has faced criticism from both government officials and passengers due to the mass cancellations that began on December 2, attributed to new regulatory changes affecting pilots' flight duty regulations, leaving many travelers stranded across the country.
Initially, IndiGo did not acknowledge the extent of the cancellations, but on Friday, it announced a record 1,600 flight cancellations in a single day, prompting CEO Elbers to issue a video apology for the inconvenience caused.
In his message, Elbers acknowledged the numerous cancellations but did not specify the staggering number for that day.
The new flight duty time limitations, which apply to all domestic airlines, were implemented in two phases on July 1 and November 1 of this year.
IndiGo has received temporary relaxations for the second phase of these regulations until February 10.
The updated flight duty time limits include increased weekly rest periods of 48 hours, extended night hours, and a reduction in the number of night landings from six to two, which faced initial resistance from airlines like IndiGo and Air India.
Despite the pushback, the DGCA rolled out these regulations following directives from the Delhi High Court, albeit with a delay of over a year and with specific adjustments for airlines such as IndiGo and Air India.
Originally scheduled for implementation in March 2024, these norms were postponed at the request of airlines, including IndiGo, which cited the need for additional crew.