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DGCA Issues Show-Cause Notice to IndiGo CEO Over “Significant Lapses” Amid Nationwide Flight Chaos
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, holding him personally responsible for “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management” that triggered India’s worst aviation meltdown in years. Elbers has been given 24 hours to explain why enforcement action should not be taken.
Meanwhile, the civil aviation ministry imposed emergency fare caps on domestic flights and directed IndiGo to complete all pending refunds by Sunday evening, as tens of thousands of stranded passengers across airports faced soaring airfares, missing luggage, and widespread cancellations for a fifth straight day.
Regulator Flags “Prima Facie Non-Compliance”
The DGCA’s notice cited “prima facie non-compliance” with Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements, accusing IndiGo of failing to prepare adequate arrangements for revised crew fatigue norms and failing to provide required passenger facilities during massive network disruptions.
Such large-scale failures, the notice said, reflected deep shortcomings in planning and operational management.
“As CEO, you are responsible for effective management of the airline but you have failed in your duty to ensure reliable operations and availability of requisite facilities to passengers,” it stated.
Elbers has until Sunday evening to respond. The regulator warned that failure to reply would result in an ex-parte decision.
Government Caps Airfares Amid “Unreasonable Surge”
Earlier in the day, the aviation ministry capped fares across all domestic routes for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The upper limits were set at:
- ₹7,500 for routes up to 500 km
- ₹12,000 for 500–1,000 km
- ₹15,000 for 1,000–1,500 km
- ₹18,000 for routes above 1,500 km
(Exclusive of airport fees and taxes)
The ministry said several airlines had engaged in “opportunistic pricing,” with ticket rates spiking up to ten-fold after IndiGo’s cancellations wiped out national capacity.
IndiGo’s Worst-Ever Operational Collapse
In its first clear admission of the crisis scale, IndiGo disclosed it operated “a little above 700 flights” on Friday—roughly 30% of its daily schedule—implying 1,500 cancellations, the highest single-day tally since the crisis began Tuesday.
The airline said Saturday’s operations improved to “over 1,500 flights,” still leaving around 700 cancellations.
Since Tuesday, IndiGo has cancelled approximately 3,600 flights, stranding passengers nationwide and leaving many unable to trace their baggage for days.
IndiGo described Friday’s mass cancellations as part of a deliberate “reboot” to stabilise rosters and systems. “There are early signs of improvement,” the airline said, adding it had restored connectivity to 135 of its 138 destinations. The carrier apologised to customers and thanked government agencies for support.
Fare Gouging Sparks Public Outrage
With IndiGo operating far below capacity, airfares on major routes soared.
HT’s review of booking platforms on Friday found return fares from Delhi starting at:
- ₹38,000 for Mumbai
- ₹27,000 for Bengaluru
- ₹34,000 for Kolkata
- ₹30,000 for Pune
Some round-trip fares breached ₹90,000, prompting the ministry’s intervention.
DGCA Grants IndiGo Temporary Relief on Crew Fatigue Rules
On Friday, DGCA relaxed key fatigue-management rules for IndiGo until February 10, allowing longer night duty hours and permitting substitution of other leave types for weekly rest. The airline had admitted to “misjudgment and planning gaps” in implementing new Flight Duty Time Limitations that took effect on November 1.
The Airline Pilots Association of India criticised the exemptions, saying they “gravely compromised” passenger safety. The regulator appealed to pilot bodies to cooperate given heightened travel demand during the winter and wedding season.
Market Impact and Structural Weaknesses Exposed
IndiGo’s stock has dropped 7.3% over four trading sessions, wiping out ₹16,190 crore in market value.
With a 60% share of India’s domestic market and a fleet of over 400 mostly Airbus A320-family aircraft, the crisis has underscored the airline’s dependence on a single aircraft type and its thin operational buffers—long seen as weaknesses during periods of stress.
