IndiGo gets time till 6 pm Monday to answer DGCA notice.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline operated around 1,650 flights Sunday and expects flight operations to fully stabilise by December ten.
IndiGo continues to navigate the country’s worst aviation crisis in years, with flight cancellations and disruptions affecting thousands of passengers across India. On Sunday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers an extension until 6 pm on Monday to respond to a show-cause notice issued over the airline’s massive operational disruptions that began earlier this week. The notice, issued on Saturday, held the airline accountable for “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management,” and required the CEO to explain why enforcement action should not be initiated.
The DGCA’s action comes as the airline faces mounting pressure to restore normalcy. Over the past six days, IndiGo has struggled to manage flight schedules, leaving many passengers stranded and scrambling for alternatives. In response, the civil aviation ministry stepped in on Saturday, directing the airline to clear all pending refunds for affected passengers by 8 pm on Sunday, December 7. The ministry also imposed fare caps on domestic flights after ticket prices surged sharply, reflecting high demand from passengers looking for last-minute alternatives.
IndiGo, in its statement, said it had formed a crisis management group (CMG) to monitor the situation and assured passengers that it was “doing everything possible” to mitigate the challenges. The airline reported operating around 1,500 flights on Saturday and said that over 95 per cent of its network connectivity had been re-established. CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed that IndiGo will gradually return to normal operations, stating that the airline expects flight operations to stabilise fully by December 10.
The airline has also been asked to ensure that any baggage separated from travellers during the disruptions is returned within the next two days, highlighting the human impact of the crisis. Passengers have faced long delays, missed connections, and increased travel costs due to the sudden surge in demand for alternative flights. IndiGo has repeatedly apologised for the disruptions and pledged to provide refunds, assistance, and timely information to passengers affected by the operational setbacks.
While the DGCA and the civil aviation ministry have been closely monitoring the situation, IndiGo continues to work on recovering lost flights, recalibrating its staffing, and addressing operational inefficiencies. The coming days will be crucial in restoring passenger confidence, as the airline attempts to regain normalcy and reassure travellers that such disruptions will not recur. The aviation watchdog has made it clear that IndiGo’s response to the show-cause notice and the steps it takes to manage the ongoing crisis will be closely scrutinised.