indigo Faces Scrutiny as Flight Cancellations Mount Amid Weather and Operational Concerns
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is under increasing pressure as it grapples with widespread flight disruptions, prompting a government investigation and raising questions about its operational capacity.
IndiGo cancelled 13 flights scheduled for Sunday, December 17, attributing the disruptions to forecasted bad weather across multiple airports, with an additional two cancellations stemming from operational issues. this follows a larger wave of cancellations on Saturday, December 16, impacting 57 flights across the airline’s network. The affected routes serve major Indian cities including Chandigarh,Mumbai,Ahmedabad,Hyderabad,Amritsar,Bengaluru,Delhi,Gaya,Kolkata,Chennai,Jaipur,and Pune.
The latest cancellations add to a pattern of disruptions that began earlier this month, when IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights due to the implementation of stricter regulations regarding pilot duty periods and rest. While the airline has consistently cited “bad weather” as a contributing factor in recent weeks, the frequency of these cancellations has triggered a formal inquiry.
Air India has also issued a travel advisory, warning passengers of dense fog and reduced visibility across northern India, potentially impacting flight schedules on Sunday morning in cities like Chandigarh, Amritsar, and Varanasi. The airline urged travelers to check flight statuses and allow extra time for their journeys. “In the event of unexpected delays, diversions, or cancellations, please rest assured that our ground colleagues remain available to assist you,” a company release stated.
The Directorate general of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has designated December 10 to February 10 as the official “fog window” for the winter season, mandating airlines to adhere to specific low-visibility operating procedures. These procedures, outlined in the DGCA’s Category III B (CAT-IIIB) guidelines, require airlines to roster pilots specifically trained for low-visibility conditions and deploy aircraft equipped with the necessary technology. CAT-III systems allow for landings in dense fog, with CAT-III A permitting operations at a runway visual range of 200 meters and CAT-III B enabling landings with visibility below 50 meters.
Prior to the recent disruptions, IndiGo had approval to operate 15,014 domestic flights per week – approximately 2,144 flights daily – representing a six percent increase over its summer 2025 schedule. Though, following the widespread disruptions earlier this month, which included the cancellation of roughly 1,600 flights in a single day due to the new pilot rest norms, the government reduced the airline’s domestic capacity by 10 percent, equating to 214 fewer flights each day. Consequently, IndiGo is now limited to a maximum of 1,930 domestic flights per day during the current winter season.
A four-member DGCA panel is currently investigating IndiGo’s recent operational challenges. The panel has already questioned the airline’s CEO, pieter Elbers, and COO, Isidre Porqueras, and is expected to release its findings later this week. According to officials,the DGCA submitted a report on Friday evening to the civil aviation ministry detailing the circumstances surrounding indigo’s operational disruptions. The report is expected to focus on the disparity between the severe impact on the airline’s domestic network and the relatively unaffected international operations.
“The inquiry committee, headed by DGCA Joint Director General Sanjay K. Bramhane, has submitted a confidential report,” a ministry spokesperson confirmed. Aviation Minister ram Mohan naidu has assured Parliament that the government will t
