The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has ordered India's largest carrier, IndiGo, to immediately curtail its flight operations by 10% following a week of mass cancellations and disruptions that severely inconvenienced thousands of passengers nationwide. This directive, a significant escalation from an earlier 5% cut ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is a punitive measure aimed at stabilizing the airline's chaotic schedule caused by operational and crew rostering failures.
Here are the 5 key updates on the IndiGo flight cancellation crisis:
1. Mandatory 10% Operations Cut
The government, through the MoCA, has ordered a minimum 10% reduction in IndiGo's overall flight operations for the current winter schedule. This curtailment applies to the airline's total weekly departures, which was previously approved at over 15,000. This move is designed to force the airline to rationalize its schedule to align with its actual operational capacity, particularly regarding pilot crew availability.
2. Root Cause: New Crew Rest Rules (FDTL)
The widespread flight disruptions, which saw thousands of cancellations, are primarily attributed to IndiGo's failure to adequately prepare for the second phase of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which came into effect on November 1. These new norms mandate stricter rest periods for pilots and limit night flying, leading to an increased requirement for crew that the airline reportedly failed to meet, causing a severe manpower and rostering crisis.
3. CEO Summoned and Government Warning
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers was summoned by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu for an urgent briefing on the situation. The Minister publicly asserted that "No airline, however large, will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers" through planning failures, vowing "strict and appropriate action" against the airline for the disruptions. This signals a firm regulatory stance against the dominant carrier.
4. Passenger Relief Measures
The government has mandated several passenger convenience and relief measures:
- Fare Caps: The DGCA has imposed price ceilings on affected routes to prevent predatory pricing after the cancellations caused airfares to surge.
- Refunds and Baggage: IndiGo has been strictly instructed to expedite the processing of all remaining refunds and ensure the swift delivery of unclaimed baggage to affected travelers.
5. Slots to be Reallocated to Other Carriers
The slots freed up by IndiGo's mandated reduction may be offered to other domestic airlines, such as Air India and Akasa Air, to absorb the excess passenger demand during the busy winter travel season. The government has also asked other carriers to add more flights and utilize larger aircraft on key domestic routes to minimize passenger inconvenience.
IndiGo has confirmed that it will comply with the 10% reduction while assuring that it will continue to serve all its destinations using an "adjusted network."
