DGCA summons IndiGo CEO and senior officials
DGCA summons IndiGo CEO and senior officials
Initiates accountability process for recent disruptions and widespread flight cancellations
New Delhi, December 11 —
India’s largest private airline, IndiGo, has been under scrutiny recently due to serious operational disruptions, long delays, and frequent flight cancellations. Against this backdrop, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation regulatory body, summoned IndiGo’s CEO, COO, Head of Operations, and other senior management officials on Monday. The DGCA sought direct answers from the company regarding why such a large number of flights were affected in a single week and why passengers were repeatedly facing inconvenience.
Over 300 flights affected in the last week
In the past seven days, a large number of IndiGo’s domestic and international flights have either been cancelled or delayed by several hours. This disruption, occurring at the beginning of the festive and tourist season, has caused widespread anger among passengers.
Hundreds of passengers from several airports—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—have lodged complaints on social media, stating that:
- Flights were cancelled without clear notice
- Passengers were left waiting in the lounges for extended periods
- Some passengers were not even informed of delays of 5-7 hours
- There was also chaos in refunds and rebooking
The DGCA stated that this situation “exceeds the limits of normal operational challenges” and indicates a management failure on the part of the airline.
DGCA’s strong statement: ‘Passenger safety and convenience are paramount’
The DGCA made it clear that no matter how large the airline, if it fails to adhere to passenger convenience, safety, and timely operations, regulatory action will be inevitable. According to sources, DGCA officials asked IndiGo management for detailed explanations on the following points during the meeting:
- The root causes of the large-scale flight delays and cancellations.
- Whether this is a result of pilot/crew shortage, technical maintenance issues, or scheduling failures?
- What arrangements have been made for passenger compensation, meal vouchers, and refunds?
- What backup plans has the airline implemented to prevent such situations?
The DGCA has directed the airline to submit a detailed report within the next 48 hours.
IndiGo’s explanation: ‘Operations affected due to unforeseen reasons’
At the meeting, IndiGo management acknowledged that operations have been challenging in the past few days, but the airline did not publicly disclose the detailed reasons.
However, according to insiders:
- An unofficial ‘silent protest’ by a section of pilots
- Increased technical inspections
- Unscheduled maintenance of some aircraft
- Pressure on crew management due to new flight frequencies
These factors are exacerbating the situation.
IndiGo assured the DGCA that additional crew are being deployed, schedules are being restructured, and technical resources are being strengthened to normalize flights in the coming days.
Government also takes action, increased monitoring by the Ministry
The Ministry of Civil Aviation termed the matter a “serious issue concerning passenger interests” and directed the DGCA to maintain 24×7 monitoring of the situation.
A senior official of the Ministry said that if necessary:
- Fines on the airline
- Mandatory reduction in flight capacity
- Or an operations audit
could also be implemented.
The government has previously reduced the number of flights for airlines in similar situations to prevent them from over-scheduling beyond their capacity.
Passengers’ anger: ‘Expensive tickets, poor service’
Thousands of passengers expressed their anger on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Passengers wrote:
- “IndiGo’s punctuality used to be reliable, now there are delays every time.” * “Made to wait for 6 hours with children, no food, no announcements.”
- “Flight cancelled, no update on refund.”
Experts say that in such times, brand trust becomes the biggest challenge for the airline, and this could impact its market position in the long run.
Analysis: Growing Pressure on Private Airlines
Experts believe that the Indian aviation sector is growing rapidly, but:
- Pilot shortage
- High fuel costs (ATF)
- Maintenance delays
- And a sudden surge in traffic
have put airlines under pressure.
IndiGo holds approximately 60% of the Indian market share, so disruptions in its operations have a nationwide impact.
Next Steps: What are the possible actions?
DGCA officials are taking a serious stance. Potential steps include:
- Imposing strict penalties on the airline
- Conducting a detailed safety and operational audit
- Directing the airline to reduce its flight schedule
- Mandating compensation for delayed/cancelled flights
This is expected to improve the airline’s operational efficiency and the services provided to passengers.
Conclusion
IndiGo has been known for its “on-time performance” for many years, but recent events have raised questions about its operational model. The DGCA’s strict stance is clear—there will be no compromise on passenger safety and convenience.
The report to be submitted by the airline in the next 48 hours will determine what further steps the regulatory body will take and when passengers will get relief from this inconvenience.