IndiGo Faces Major Operational Disruption with Over 1,000 Flights Canceled
IndiGo's Operational Crisis
Peter Elbers, the CEO of IndiGo, acknowledged significant operational turmoil following the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights across airports in India on Friday. He described December 5 as the worst day for the airline in terms of operational disruptions. During a discussion about the crisis, Elbers confirmed that over 1,000 flights were canceled on that date and indicated that the situation might persist into Saturday, although he anticipated that cancellations would drop below 1,000.
Despite the challenges, Elbers reassured passengers that IndiGo is working around the clock to restore normal operations, with expectations of stabilization between December 10 and 15. In a video message, he stated, "I want to inform you that we have been facing severe operational disruptions over the past few days. This crisis has been escalating, and today, December 5, has been the most affected day, with cancellations exceeding 1,000, which is more than half of our daily flights."
Elbers expressed his apologies for the inconvenience caused to many customers due to delays and cancellations. He stated in the video, "On behalf of everyone at IndiGo, I sincerely apologize for the significant inconvenience caused to our customers due to the delays or cancellations." In response to the large number of flight cancellations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formed a four-member committee to conduct a thorough review and assessment of the situation. According to the order issued on Friday, the committee includes Joint Director General Sanjay K. Brahmane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, Senior Flight Operations Inspector Captain Kapil Manglik, and Flight Operations Inspector Captain Rampal.
The order specifies that the committee is expected to present its findings and recommendations to the DGCA within 15 days to facilitate necessary regulatory enforcement actions and ensure institutional strengthening. The initial assessment suggests that there are deficiencies in internal inspections, operational readiness, and compliance plans, indicating the need for an independent investigation.