DGCA forms four member-committee as over 1,000 IndiGo flights cancelled nationwide
IndiGo flights cancellations: The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that the Central Government remains fully aware of the challenges faced by air passengers and is continuously engaging with all relevant stakeholders.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered the formation of a four-member committee to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the factors causing operational disruptions in IndiGo airlines. The panel includes Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane, Deputy Director General Amit Gupta, Captain Kapil Manglik of the Society of Indian Commercial Pilots (SFOI), and Captain Lokesh Rampal from the Federation of Indian Airlines (FOI).
Aviation Ministry’s immediate measures to stabilise flight operations
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has implemented urgent orders directing airlines, particularly IndiGo, to take immediate steps to resolve severe disruptions affecting flight schedules. Two government orders aim to alleviate public inconvenience and restore service stability.
Key expectations outlined by the ministry include-
- Flight schedules should begin stabilising and return to normal starting by midnight.
- Full service restoration and operational stability are anticipated within the next few days.
- Passengers can monitor real-time flight delays via information systems established by IndiGo and other carriers.
- IndiGo will automatically issue full refunds for all canceled tickets.
- Stranded passengers will be accommodated at hotels booked by airlines.
- Senior citizens will receive special care, including lounge access.
- Delayed flight passengers will be provided with refreshments and essential amenities.
- A 24x7 control room at the Ministry is actively monitoring the evolving situation.
IndiGo cancels over 1,000 flights amid chaos
IndiGo canceled more than 1,000 flights on December 5 as operational disruptions continued to affect thousands of passengers across major airports nationwide. The country’s largest airline, which operates about two-thirds of domestic flights, roughly 2,300 flights daily, struggled to manage the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms introduced on November 1, resulting in severe delays and cancellations.
Flight operations expected to normalise within 10 days
IndiGo cancelled more than 1,000 flights causing widespread disruption for thousands of passengers over four consecutive days. The airline, which handles about two-thirds of India's domestic air traffic with roughly 2,300 daily flights, struggled to comply with newly introduced flight duty time limitations that mandate longer rest periods and restrict night landings.
The chaos at major airports persisted as frustrated travelers searched for updates and their luggage, while ticket prices surged on many routes. Responding to the crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from certain FDTL provisions, including night landing restrictions, to help the airline stabilize its operations. IndiGo had been required to implement these norms starting November 1, but inadequate planning led to the current disruptions.
With the DGCA's intervention and ongoing efforts, IndiGo expects flight schedules to return to normal within the next ten days. Meanwhile, the aviation watchdog will investigate the causes of the operational breakdown to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Frustrated travellers vented on social media, while ticket prices surged on many routes. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted IndiGo temporary relief from certain FDTL requirements, including night landing restrictions, to help restore normal operations. IndiGo expects its flight schedules to stabilise within the next 10 days as authorities continue to investigate the disruptions.
Government’s commitment and operational adjustments
The Central Government remains fully alert to the difficulties faced by air travelers and continues to engage all stakeholders. To restore schedules and mitigate inconveniences, the government has suspended new flight duty regulations and implemented additional operational measures.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu emphasised the seriousness of the situation by ordering a high-level inquiry to uncover the root causes and assign accountability for IndiGo’s disruptions. He expressed confidence that flight operations will start normalising by tomorrow (December 6), expecting complete restoration within three days. The ministry assures that every possible action, including regulatory relaxations announced by the DGCA, will be employed to ensure passenger convenience and speedy recovery of airline services.
Here are some related stories of IndiGo flight cancellations: