IndiGo Flight Cancellations Trigger Government Probe, DGCA Rollback of New Rules
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A high-level inquiry has been launched by India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation into widespread flight disruptions caused by hundreds of cancellations from low-cost carrier IndiGo over the past three days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the country.
The investigation, initiated on friday, comes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) identified “deficiencies in internal oversight, operational preparedness, and compliance planning” as the root cause of the chaos.
Committee to Examine Root Causes of Disruptions
A four-member committee, led by DGCA Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane, will conduct a comprehensive review of the events leading to the airport disruptions. The committee also includes amit Gupta, deputy director general; Capt Kapil Manglik, senior flight operations inspector (SFOI); and Capt Lokesh Rampal, FOI. According to a government statement, the probe will focus on determining what went wrong, assigning obligation, and recommending preventative measures to avoid future hardships for passengers.
Crew Planning Issues Blamed for Over 750 Flight Cancellations
The disruptions began after IndiGo cancelled more than 750 flights following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules by the DGCA. The airline has publicly apologized for the inconvenience, attributing the cancellations to miscalculations in crew planning. “To each one of our customers – we are truly sorry and we will take care!” IndiGo stated in a release.
The airline further emphasized its commitment to restoring normal operations, stating on its official X account, “Our frontline staff and the entire team remain dedicated to restoring normal operations and helping every customer with care and respect. Thank you for your patience,understanding and kindness during this difficult time.We shall keep you updated on the progress on an ongoing basis.”
DGCA Partially Reverses New FDTL Norms
In response to the widespread disruption, the DGCA has temporarily rolled back parts of the new FDTL norms, granting airlines a “one-time temporary exemption.” The revised rules, initially intended to enhance pilot rest and safety, had increased weekly rest hours from 36 to 48 and significantly reduced the number of permitted night landings.
Enhanced Passenger Support Measures Mandated
The government has directed airlines to provide enhanced support to affected passengers. This includes providing regular and accurate flight status updates through improved online data systems, allowing passengers to monitor their flights in real-time. Moreover, airlines are now required to automatically issue full refunds for cancelled flights, eliminating the need for passengers to submit requests. Passengers experiencing prolonged delays will also be provided with hotel accommodation directly arranged by the airlines.
To facilitate immediate resolution of issues, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has established a 24×7 control Room with the fol
Why: The widespread flight cancellations were triggered by IndiGo’s inability to adequately adjust crew scheduling following the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules by the DGCA.
Who: The primary parties involved are IndiGo airline, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and thousands of affected passengers.
What: IndiGo cancelled over 750 flights over three days, stranding passengers and prompting a government investigation and a partial rollback of the new FDTL norms.
How did it end?: The DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from certain aspects of the new FDTL rules to allow the airline to restore operations. A committee was formed to investigate the root causes, and enhanced passenger support
