A key parliamentary panel has taken up the case of the massive flight disruptions that hit India's largest airline, IndiGo, last week, hearing from the carrier's top management and regulators. However, the inquiry into the incident that caused panic among thousands of passengers is still not concluded.
Parliamentary Panel Seeks Answers
Sanjay Jha, the JDU MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, informed reporters on Wednesday that the panel had listened to detailed presentations from various stakeholders. These included IndiGo, the pilots' association, airline operators, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding the widespread cancellations and delays.
"There was a disruption at the airport involving air traffic control, and a detailed presentation on it was given today," Jha stated. He confirmed that while the committee has heard their versions, the inquiry remains ongoing, and the panel may reconvene after its completion.
A Perfect Storm of Operational Issues
The hearing follows the appearance of IndiGo's Chief Operating Officer, Isidro Porqueras, before the committee, alongside officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Federation of Pilot Associations. When questioned by the media, Porqueras declined to comment on the cancellations.
The disruptions began after the implementation of the second phase of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which reduced the number of permitted night landings for pilots. While all airlines had to adapt, IndiGo was the worst hit due to a thinner pilot buffer, leading to hundreds of cancelled flights.
A senior airline official described the situation as a result of multiple simultaneous factors. A root cause analysis is underway to determine the exact contribution of each issue. The official termed it a "learning experience" and denied any allegations of operational inadequacy.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Ministry's Response
The fallout has been significant. The DGCA has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras, demanding explanations for the operational failures. Furthermore, the Ministry of Civil Aviation directed senior officials to conduct on-ground inspections at major airports including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai to assess passenger difficulties and airline operations.
In Parliament, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu clarified that the disruptions were not linked to the Aircraft Maintenance and Scheduling System (AMSS). Instead, he attributed them to IndiGo's internal crew rostering and operational planning. He emphasized that FDTL consultations involved all stakeholders and that passenger safety is paramount.
The Path to Normalcy
To force a swift resolution, the DGCA has directed IndiGo to reduce its daily flight schedule by 5%, which translates to roughly 110 flights. The airline, which normally operates about 2,300 flights daily, has been gradually restoring services. It has projected that full operational stability will be achieved by December 10.
The episode highlights the fragile balance in airline operations and the cascading effects of regulatory changes, especially for carriers with tight operational margins. Passengers and authorities alike await the final findings of the parliamentary inquiry and the airline's internal root cause analysis.
