IndiGo Airlines is currently facing a major operational crisis that has continued for seven days, leading to over 400 flight cancellations at major airports in India, which has left thousands of passengers stranded. The Supreme Court has chosen not to intervene, stating that the government is already addressing the crisis, which began due to stricter pilot duty regulations disrupting flight schedules. Key airports like Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport reported 127 cancellations, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport saw 77, and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport recorded 134 cancellations, among others, resulting in many passengers anxiously waiting for updates. The Supreme Court did not grant an urgent hearing on a plea concerning the cancellations, affirming that lakhs of passengers are affected and noting the government’s actions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has responded by giving IndiGo a 24-hour extension to address a Show Cause Notice related to planning and resource management lapses, warning that lack of response could lead to unilateral decisions. Furthermore, the civil aviation ministry has capped domestic airfares at Rs 18,000 to prevent excessive charges during this disruption, commanding IndiGo to restore fully operational flights within two days and ensure timely refunds for affected travelers. In acknowledging the crisis, IndiGo’s CEO has publicly apologized and announced automatic refunds for impacted passengers, alongside waiving rescheduling fees for flights booked between December 5 and 15, with the ministry revealing that Rs 610 crore in refunds have already been processed. As IndiGo aims to stabilize operations by December 10, with plans to run around 1,650 flights daily, the DGCA has requested cooperation from pilot bodies for a return to normalcy as the peak travel season approaches.
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