The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a formal investigation into the widespread flight disruptions plaguing IndiGo's network. The aviation regulator has summoned the airline's officials to its headquarters to explain the causes behind the ongoing operational crisis and present a concrete plan to mitigate passenger inconvenience.
Regulator Steps In Amid Passenger Chaos
In an official press note released on Wednesday, the DGCA expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to travellers and advised them to verify their flight status through official channels before heading to airports. The regulator stated it is actively investigating the situation and collaborating with the airline to evaluate measures aimed at reducing cancellations and delays.
IndiGo has been directed to report to the DGCA headquarters with a detailed account of the facts leading to the current situation, along with a comprehensive plan to address the persistent delays and cancellations.
Scale of the Disruption: Startling Numbers Revealed
According to the DGCA's press note, IndiGo disclosed that a staggering 1,232 flights were cancelled in the month of November alone. The airline attributed a significant portion of these cancellations to crew constraints and Air Traffic Control (ATC) issues.
The data shared with the regulator highlighted 755 instances of crew-related constraints and 92 ATC failures. The DGCA note acknowledged that a large share of the cancellations arose from crew compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and airport or airspace ATC factors, many of which are beyond the airline's direct control.
On-Time Performance Plummets, Airports Affected
The probe comes as IndiGo, which operates over 2,200 daily flights, grapples with a severe crew shortage leading to massive delays and cancellations across its network. Government data revealed a dismal on-time performance for the airline, with only 35% of its flights operating on time on Tuesday, December 2.
The situation persisted into Wednesday, with major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru reporting close to 200 flight cancellations by afternoon. The cascading effect of the disruptions has left thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated.
In an official statement, IndiGo apologised for the disruptions, expressing regret for the inconvenience. The airline blamed the crisis on an unforeseen combination of operational challenges.
IndiGo's statement cited a confluence of factors: minor technical glitches, adjustments for the winter schedule, adverse weather conditions in parts of the country, heavy congestion at key airports, and the impact of updated crew rostering rules. The airline claimed these elements collectively weakened its operations in an unpredictable manner.
