IndiGo Flights Cancellation Highlights: 3,000 bags to be returned by today, DGCA to take action on airline

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“I had to go to Chennai and booked a round-trip flight. I did not have an issue while returning, but while going, my flight was scheduled for 2 AM on 9th December. I got a message that it has been rescheduled for 9 PM. Now I will have to wait for 12 hours here. I have been trying on the helpline for 2 days, but did not get a satisfactory response,” says a passenger at Ahmedabad airport.

Cancellations till now:

• Domestic Arrival: 1
• Domestic Departures: 3.

Operated till now:

• Arrivals: 3
• Departures: 2

IndiGo flight disruptions and cancellations continue to affect passengers at Ahmedabad airport. Video

"Since eight months ago, we had been talking to airline companies, meeting with them, offering clarifications. IndiGo had been running its operations successfully for 20 years. But how could it miss this? How did it not know the internal problems it was facing? The inquiry committee will address all these questions," Naidu said.

IndiGo Airlines had a total of 9,000 bags of passengers, out of which 6,000 bags have been returned to the passengers and the remaining 3,000 bags will be given to the passengers by today. The Union Civil Aviation Minister has assured the people of the country that air travel will become normal after December 10.

“From this entire IndiGo episode, one thing is clear that this crisis is IndiGo's internal one - relating to problems of crew management and pilot utilization. In light of this, we have formed a four-member committee under DGCA which is expected to come out with all details in 15 days,” Ram Mohan Naidu told DD News in an interview.

Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, told ANI that there was no delay in government action amid the IndiGo flight cancelation crisis.

“On the 3rd, when we got to know, immediately we held meetings, and thereafter we coordinated with the airlines and also with the airports and other airlines, and thereafter everything has been smooth,” he said.

Delhi airport: 143 flights cancelled — 83 departures and 60 arrivals

Bengaluru airport: 127 flights cancelled — 65 arrivals and 62 departures

Hyderabad airport: 77 flights cancelled — 38 arrivals and 39 departures

Ahmedabad airport: 18 flights cancelled — 9 arrivals and 9 departures

Jaipur, Chennai, Mumbai, Guwahati and Jaipur airports also reported significant disruptions, ANI reported

“We have also put fare caps. Airfare has been capped at ₹18,000. It starts from ₹7500 for up to 500 kilometres, and beyond 1500 kilometres, it is ₹18000. We have already ordered an inquiry. A detailed inquiry is going to take place in the next 15 days or so, and once the outcome of the inquiry is there with us, then we will go into the reasons for that. In the meantime, the senior management of IndiGo has also been shown cause. We will wait for the inquiry report and thereafter take corrective actions,” Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, tells ANI.

“Things are almost back to normal. IndiGo has flown more than 1,800 flights today, which is almost normal. All the other airlines, like Akasa, Air India Express, Air India, and Spicejet, have flown their full capacity. We just saw that 90% of the baggage has already arrived. The airlines have been sending baggage to their respective passengers' addresses. I feel that within the next 24 hours or so, the luggage will be there at the passenger's given address,” says Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Ram Mohan Naidu said that from December 2 till Monday, refunds have been given to 7,30,655 passengers and ₹745.7 crore has been returned to the passengers. Those who rebook tickets with IndiGo Airlines till December 15 will not have to pay any additional charges.

"We also now want to set an example. At the Ministry, we set rules and regulations. We back it up with vigilance and monitoring. Two days before the crisis, on December 1, the DGCA had a meeting with IndiGo officials - to explain to them FDTL rules and offer whatever clarifications they required. But at that time, IndiGo officials did not raise any issue. Why? What led to such a situation in just two days?" Naidu asked in the interview

"We need to consider here two things. The new FDTL rules were implemented on November 1. If this crisis was due to these rules, then why did the crisis erupt after one month, on Dec 3? Secondly, when delays and cancellations started on Dec 3. Then why weren't relevant measures and communications not in place? Why weren't the passengers informed beforehand?" Naidu asked in an interview with DD News.

In an exclusive interview with senior journalist Sudhir Chaudhary on the primetime news programme 'Decode' on DD News, Rammohan Naidu said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "guided us and told us to focus on passengers and do more for them than what is required".

Six major domestic airlines have employed 13,989 pilots, with Air India and its low-cost arm, Air India Express, having 6,350 and 1,592 pilots respectively and IndiGo having 5,085 cockpit crew, Parliament was informed on Monday.

“We have already ordered an inquiry. A detailed inquiry is going to take place in the next 15 days or so, and once the outcome of the inquiry is there with us, then we will go into the reasons for that. We would not like to have this kind of occurrence ever in future. We are waiting for the outcome of the inquiry. In the meantime, the senior management of IndiGo has also been shown cause. We will wait for the inquiry report and thereafter take corrective actions,” says Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Shares of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., which operates IndiGo, plunged after the government signalled it will take action against India’s largest airline after mass flight cancellations.

The stock dropped 8.7% on Monday — its biggest plunge since February 2022 — and marked a seventh day of selling that’s cumulatively cut $4.5 billion from the company’s market value

IndiGo said that its network of flights has been completely restored. However, nearly 500 domestic flights remained cancelled.

On Monday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu told Rajya Sabha that the problems faced by IndiGo Airlines passengers were linked to the airline's internal crew rostering and operational planning and not the Aircraft Maintenance and Scheduling System (AMSS).

All senior officials of the Ministry have been instructed to visit airports to verify airline operations and passenger-oriented services, Civil Aviation minister Naidu said after the meeting in a statement. “Any shortcomings identified, including feedback received through interactions with passengers are to be addressed and rectified immediately,” the statement noted.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation & DGCA conducted a high-level review meeting comprising all the senior officials was undertaken for a comprehensive assessment of the situation regarding IndiGo on the night of December 8, a statement from Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu read.

“The Ministry of Civil Aviation & DGCA has been constantly monitoring the situation across all the airports in real-time since 3rd December due to extra ordinary circumstances caused by the disruption of Indigo operations,” it said.

“To make air travel safer, pilots were demanding more rest hours in line with international regulations. Therefore, the DGCA issued new regulations, following court orders. All airlines were instructed more than a year ago to recruit more pilots and staff and prepare for the new regulations. Airlines like Akasa, SpiceJet, Air India, and Air India Express all complied. However, IndiGo not only disobeyed the regulations, but also expanded its international route network and increased domestic flights without increasing crew and pilots. As a result, when the government wanted to enforce the policy deadline, IndiGo, instead of reducing some of its flights, grounded most of its flights... It created complete chaos,” says Aviation expert, Subhash Goyal.

“The company is saying it is a miscalculation. We don't know what the miscalculation is because it hasn't been clearly stated where the miscalculation occurred or where the error happened...DGCA has formed a panel of its own officials who will look into this matter and provide a review...The root cause should be explained to the people...The issue is the chances of it happening again...Our concern is that DGCA allowing a temporary exemption from some FDTL rules compromises the safety...Today we have got one law for IndiGo and one law for other operators...To fulfil the demands of the flights, we are compromising on safety, and that will not go very well with the flying public,” says , Captain Anil Rao, General Secretary of the Airline Pilots' Association (ALPA).

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu has said that the IndiGo CEO and management failed in containing its operational crisis and flight cancellations that led to huge difficulties for passengers, and strict action will be taken after looking into the airline's reply to the Show Cause notice.

Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu stated on Monday that the government intends to take stringent action against IndiGo to “set an example” for airlines that breach regulations, as per PTI. This comes as the nation’s largest carrier ramps up flights, gradually restoring operations after a week of widespread cancellations.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu spoke in the Rajya Sabha about the ongoing IndiGo crisis, stating that the problems faced by passengers were due to the airline’s internal crew rostering and operational planning, and not related to the Aircraft Maintenance and Scheduling System (AMSS), as per ANI.

The minister emphasised that "there will be no compromise on safety" and highlighted that strict Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are in place to safeguard passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations

Six leading domestic airlines collectively employ 13,989 pilots, Parliament was informed on Monday. Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, have 6,350 and 1,592 pilots respectively, while IndiGo’s cockpit crew numbers 5,085, according to PTI.

Smaller carriers include Akasa with 466 pilots, SpiceJet with 385, and the government-owned Alliance Air with 111 pilots, according to Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that the IndiGo CEO and management failed to manage the operational crisis and flight cancellations, which caused significant inconvenience to passengers. He added that strict action will be taken after reviewing the airline's response to the Show Cause notice.

In an exclusive interview with DD News, Rammohan Naidu mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "guided us and told us to focus on passengers and do more for them than what is required."

The Delhi High Court showed sympathy for passengers affected by the widespread IndiGo flight cancellations and agreed to hear one of the petitions on December 10. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court described the resulting disruption as a "serious matter" but declined to intervene, as per PTI.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant noted that lakhs of people are stranded at airports, although the apex court refused an urgent hearing for a plea requesting judicial intervention, stating that the Centre had already taken measures to address the situation.

The CPI(M) on Monday demanded an investigation into the IndiGo flight disruptions, stating that the aviation crisis in India is a natural outcome of the structural deficiency created in the air transport sector over the years, as per PTI.

In a statement, the party expressed strong resentment over the "complete disregard for air travellers in the country."

The Left party said it sees the current air travel crisis as stemming from structural factors, particularly the emergence of a virtual monopoly or duopoly in India’s air transport sector.

"New regulations introduced by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), subsequent to judicial directives, were meant to ensure fatigue management of the aircrew, particularly that of the pilots, and address concerns of the safety of air travellers in general. On the one hand, despite having ample time to do so, Indigo did not take adequate preparations, thereby bringing their operations to almost a grinding halt,"the CPI(M) added.

"Not at all," the Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha informed ANI in an interview when asked if there was a delay from the government to swing into action amid IndiGo flight cancellations.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Monday that the government plans to cut IndiGo’s winter flight schedule and reassign those routes to other airlines after the carrier’s recent major operational disruptions. Naidu told Doordarshan that “We will curtail IndiGo's routes. They are currently operating 2,200 flights. We will definitely curtail them.”

Amid increasing backlash over the IndiGo controversy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated on Monday that Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu is accountable to both the Parliament and the Prime Minister, as per PTI. "Government of India will sort it out (IndiGo crisis). I have confidence. But our party MP (Ram Mohan Naidu) is answerable to (the) Parliament, answerable to honourable Prime Minister," the CM mentioned during a press conference at the Secretariat here.

Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said on Monday said that things are almost back to normal after the disruptions caused by the recent IndiGo operational crisis. In an interview with ANI, Sinha said IndiGo has flown more than 1,800 flights today, which is almost normal and other airlines have also flown to their full capacity.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday confirmed that IndiGo Airlines has responded to the Show-Cause notice on the airline's fiasco that led to widespread cancellations last week.

On Monday, aviation safety regulator DGCA stated that it has received IndiGo's response to the show cause notice issued over the widespread flight cancellations and will take enforcement action, as per PTI.

The regulator also noted that the airline is "profusely apologetic" and deeply regrets the inconvenience and hardship caused to customers following the flight cancellations.

DGCA added that it is currently examining the response and that enforcement action, as deemed appropriate, will be taken in due course.

Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, stated that passenger concerns were a major issue. He mentioned that he had visited to inspect the baggage operations and observed that 90% of the baggage had already arrived. He added that the airlines were sending baggage to the respective passengers' addresses and expressed his expectation that the luggage would reach the passengers within the next 24 hours or so.

The airline states that the disruption resulted from a combination of the following factors:

1. Minor technical glitches.

2. Schedule changes linked to the start of the winter season.

3. Adverse weather conditions.

4. Increased congestion in the aviation system.

5. Implementation of and operation under the updated crew rostering rules

(Flight Duty Time Limitation Phase II)

The Delhi High Court showed sympathy for passengers affected by the widespread IndiGo flight cancellations and agreed to hear one of the petitions on December 10. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court described the resulting disruption as a "serious matter" but declined to intervene, as per PTI.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant noted that lakhs of people are stranded at airports, although the apex court refused an urgent hearing for a plea requesting judicial intervention, stating that the Centre had already taken measures to address the situation.

IndiGo informed India’s aviation regulator on Monday that a mix of factors, including new pilot rest and duty rules and "minor" technical glitches, caused the cancellation of at least 2,000 flights last week, as per Reuters.

According to a statement from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airline stated it was "realistically not possible" to identify the precise causes at this time due to the complexity and scale of its operations. IndiGo requested additional time to provide a detailed root-cause analysis, in line with the regulator’s rules.

YSRCP leader Margani Bharat criticised Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu for his "incompetence" solely responsible for the ongoing fiasco in the country. "Ram Mohan Naidu's incompetence alone is responsible for the ongoing aviation crisis without any proper departmental review, the Centre abruptly implemented new FDTL rules," said PTI quoted Bharat as saying.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, drawing attention to widespread and systemic operational issues at IndiGo Airlines that have caused massive flight cancellations and significant inconvenience to passengers nationwide, as per ANI.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, COO Isidre Porqueras have filed their responses to DGCA show cause notice, according to PTI citing a source.

Earlier today, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu spoke in the Rajya Sabha about the ongoing IndiGo crisis, stating that the problems faced by passengers were due to the airline’s internal crew rostering and operational planning, and not related to the Aircraft Maintenance and Scheduling System (AMSS), as per ANI.

The minister emphasised that "there will be no compromise on safety" and highlighted that strict Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are in place to safeguard passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations.

83 departures and 60 arrivals, a total of 143 flights, were cancelled as of Monday afternoon at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport , according to ANI citing airport authorities.

The airline said that 5,86,705 PNRs were cancelled and refunded between December 1 and 7, totaling ₹569.65 crore. Additionally, a total of 9,55,591 PNRs were canceled and refunded from November 21 to December 7, amounting to ₹827 crore, as per PTI.

On Monday, the Supreme Court declined to hear two separate petitions requesting an urgent hearing regarding the recent delays and cancellations of hundreds of IndiGo flights, which have caused widespread disruption for passengers at multiple airports across the country, as per ANI.

The first petition was presented before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

DGCA panel investigating IndiGo flight chaos expected to summon CEO Pieter Elbers, COO Isidre Porqueras on Wednesday, PTI reported citing a source.