After a week of widespread disruption across its network, IndiGo announced on Sunday that it had largely restored normal operations, ramping up to over 1,500 flights and reconnecting 135 out of its 138 destinations.
The airline described Saturday’s sharp reduction to just over 700 flights as a deliberate “system reboot” intended to stabilise crew rosters and IT systems following days of severe operational breakdowns that stranded thousands of passengers at airports nationwide.
The recovery follows intense political backlash and regulatory action. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram called the episode a “massive failure” of both IndiGo’s management and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued show-cause notices to CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras over the large-scale disruptions.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDIGO FIASCO
- IndiGo says operations stabilising: IndiGo stated that over 95% of its network has now been restored, with flight operations surging from around 700 on Saturday to more than 1,500 by Sunday evening. The airline apologised to affected passengers and explained that the deliberate temporary reduction was necessary to “reboot” its systems, crew rosters, and schedules.
- Airline acknowledges long road ahead: IndiGo said it still has “a long way to go” but is committed to rebuilding trust. It thanked staff, customers, partners and government agencies for support during the disruptions.
- Chidambaram blames Centre, DGCA and IndiGo: Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram described the IndiGo meltdown as a systemic failure, exposing lapses at every level — from the airline’s senior management to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA. He accused the government of failing to support carriers in smoothly implementing the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) that were notified in January 2024.
- DGCA issues notices to top IndiGo executives: The aviation regulator has issued show cause notices to CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager/COO Isidro Porqueras, blaming “significant lapses in planning, oversight and resource management.” They have 24 hours to respond.
- Government reviews situation: Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu held a “serious meeting” with Elbers on Saturday to review the crisis. Officials said action would follow based on an enquiry committee’s findings on the disruptions and handling of the FDTL changes.
Also Read: IndiGo CEO notified by DGCA over flight chaos
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