India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has been under significant scrutiny over the past 10 days following a wave of nationwide flight cancellations that have affected thousands of passengers. As the disruptions mounted, IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta issued a formal video statement addressing the allegations and clarifying the airline’s stance on operational safety, fatigue rules, and management decisions.
The situation escalated after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) constituted a special oversight team to monitor the airline’s operations from its corporate headquarters in Gurugram. With over 4,600 cancellations recorded in just 10 days, the crisis has raised concerns about regulatory compliance, operational planning, and the airline’s ability to manage pilot deployment under new fatigue guidelines.
Chairman Rejects Claims of Rule Manipulation and Safety Compromise
In a strong and clear statement, Mehta dismissed claims circulating on social media and select reports alleging that IndiGo “engineered the crisis” or attempted to influence government policies.
He stated, “That we compromised safety. That the Board was not involved. These claims are incorrect.”
This clarification comes amid speculation that the airline may have struggled to adjust to the revised pilot fatigue and duty-time rules that came into effect earlier this year.
Mehta emphasized that IndiGo has complied with fatigue rules both in July and in November, rejecting any narrative suggesting attempts to bypass regulatory norms. He further asserted that the airline maintained its long-standing safety record throughout the disruptions.
DGCA Deploys Oversight Panel to Monitor Operations
Responding to the scale of the passenger inconvenience, the DGCA issued an internal order deploying a dedicated oversight team to IndiGo’s corporate office.
According to the DGCA, this decision was taken “in view of passenger inconvenience caused due to large-scale disruptions in the operations of IndiGo Airlines at various airports across the country.”
The oversight team is expected to assess:
- Crew scheduling efficiency
- Compliance with fatigue management rules
- Operational decision-making processes
- Causes of repeated cancellations across major hubs
This is one of the rare instances where such close regulatory supervision has been directed toward a private airline in India.
Breakdown of Cancellations Over 10 Days
The ongoing crisis has resulted in widespread disruptions across India’s major airports. As of December 11, more than 4,600 flights have been cancelled. The daily breakdown reveals the scale of the crisis:
- Dec 2: 150+ cancellations
- Dec 3: Nearly 200 cancellations
- Dec 4: 300+ cancellations
- Dec 5: Approx. 1,600 cancellations
- Dec 6: Around 850 cancellations
- Dec 7: Around 650 cancellations
- Dec 8: Over 500 cancellations
- Dec 9: 400+ cancellations
- Dec 10: Nearly 220 cancellations
- Dec 11: 70+ cancellations
Among cities, Delhi saw the highest number of disruptions, with 137 cancellations on Wednesday alone, followed by Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Impact on Passengers and Industry Concerns
The disruptions have left thousands of passengers stranded, prompting calls for clearer communication and compensation measures. Aviation experts note that a combination of new fatigue regulations, resource planning gaps, and crew shortages may have contributed to the extended operational crisis.
The aviation sector is closely watching how IndiGo responds to the DGCA’s oversight and how quickly the airline can stabilize operations.
Looking Ahead: IndiGo’s Path to Operational Stability
Even as IndiGo continues to restore flight schedules, the coming days will be crucial for the airline.
Industry observers expect:
- Enhanced crew scheduling strategies
- Revised operational planning
- More transparent communication with passengers
- Stronger regulatory alignment
With the chairman’s clarification and DGCA’s oversight in place, the airline aims to rebuild public trust and restore normalcy across its network.