India's largest airline, IndiGo, is navigating turbulent skies as a spate of massive flight cancellations over five consecutive days begins to show signs of easing. The budget carrier, however, continues to grapple with significant operational disruptions, having cancelled more than 220 flights at the key hubs of Delhi and Mumbai airports on Sunday alone.
DGCA Takes Action, Serves Notice to CEO
The widespread inconvenience caused to passengers has drawn sharp regulatory scrutiny. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a formal show-cause notice to IndiGo's Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Elbers. The aviation watchdog has demanded an explanation from Elbers within 24 hours of receiving the notice.
In a sternly worded communication, the DGCA stated that the CEO had 'failed' in his duty to ensure adequate and timely arrangements for reliable flight operations. The regulator specifically highlighted the airline's responsibility to provide requisite facilities to affected travellers during this period of chaos.
Airline's Response and Recovery Timeline
In response to the crisis, a senior IndiGo official acknowledged the severe disruptions, attributing them to a combination of factors. The airline has committed to conducting a thorough 'root cause analysis' to understand the complete breakdown in operations.
The immediate focus, according to the carrier, is on stabilising its flight schedule. IndiGo has projected that its operations should return to normal and achieve stability by December 10. This timeline offers a glimmer of hope for passengers holding tickets for the coming days.
Passenger Impact and the Road Ahead
The cascading effect of the cancellations has left thousands of passengers stranded or facing major delays across the country, with the busiest airports in Delhi and Mumbai bearing the brunt. While Sunday saw a marginal recovery compared to the previous days, the scale of cancellations remains substantial.
The incident raises critical questions about operational resilience and passenger communication protocols during large-scale disruptions in India's aviation sector. All eyes are now on the airline's official response to the DGCA and its ability to meet the self-imposed December 10 deadline for normalcy.
