As IndiGo’s flight operations remained disrupted for the seventh day, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu told Parliament on Monday that the crisis was caused by “an operational issue” created by the airline.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said that IndiGo had failed to maintain its pilot roster despite having enough time to prepare for the new Flight Duty Time Limitation rules that took effect on November 1.
He added that the crisis occurred due to lapses in the airline’s “crew rostering and internal planning systems”.
Air travel has been severely hit since December 2, when a shortage of pilots and crew forced IndiGo to cancel and delay hundreds of flights. The disruption also led to fares on several routes rising to unprecedented levels.
The disruptions came amid the rollout of stricter work hour norms introduced in November. The revised rostering norms, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in January 2024 after concerns about pilot fatigue, were meant to take effect on June 1.
However, airlines asked for delayed implementation because of staffing shortages and operational challenges, and the key changes were eventually introduced on November 1.
The new rules required longer weekly rest, restricted night landings, extended the definition of night hours and limited consecutive night duties.
On Monday, Naidu said that the ministry had been closely monitoring the implementation of the revised norms for a full month and that “there has been no compromise” on ensuring compliance.
A meeting was held with IndiGo on December 1, during which the airline sought clarifications that were provided, but “did not flag any issues then”, and operations appeared normal, the minister added.
He claimed the situation changed “suddenly” on December 3, at which point the ministry “stepped in immediately” and took control of the situation.
Naidu said the government had ordered an inquiry and intended to set “an example” for the aviation sector by taking strict action in the matter.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has granted IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidro Porqueras until 6 pm on Monday to respond to show-cause notices issued on Saturday, The Indian Express reported.
On Monday, when IndiGo’s large share of the aviation market was raised in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said the government encouraged greater competition and that he wanted “more players in the industry”.
“Today, India has a capacity of five big airlines and there has been an effort from the ministry to encourage more airlines,” he said.
IndiGo operates more than 2,000 flights daily and holds about 60% of India’s civil aviation market domestically.
450 flights cancelled on Monday
On Monday, more than 450 flights operated by IndiGo were cancelled, India Today reported.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said that more than 5.86 lakh passengers had been affected by the cancellations since December 2 and that refunds worth Rs 569 crore had been issued so far.
The airline stated on Monday that its board had been meeting regularly since the crisis began and that a board-constituted Crisis Management Group, formed on Thursday, was holding daily meetings.
The group’s priorities include restoring full operational integrity, ensuring timely communication, completing refunds and rescheduling, and returning baggage to passengers, it added.
Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company, fell 7.5% on Monday and were down 15% since December 1, dropping from Rs 5,837 to Rs 4,970, The Indian Express reported.
SC declines urgent hearing
The Supreme Court on Monday declined a petition seeking urgent intervention in the IndiGo flight disruptions, Live Law reported.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the Union government had already taken cognisance of the situation and that immediate listing was not required.
“Let us see what happens after some time,” Kant said. “There is no urgency right now.”
Separately, a public interest litigation seeking refunds and passenger assistance was filed in the Delhi High Court and has been listed for hearing on Wednesday, The Hindu reported.
The petitioner said passengers were stuck in “inhumane” conditions and that there was no clear mechanism for refunds.
The bench noted that the government had already issued directions and scheduled the matter for hearing on Wednesday.
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