South Africa tour of India 2019
IndiGo Faces DGCA Action as Disruptions Enter Fifth Day
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidro Porqueras, holding the airline accountable for massive flight disruptions that have continued uninterrupted for five consecutive days. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or delayed nationwide, affecting thousands of passengers and triggering chaos across airports. The regulator has demanded detailed responses within 24 hours, citing serious operational lapses and insufficient planning to manage revised duty-time regulations for pilots.
According to the notices, IndiGo failed to provide necessary arrangements to implement the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) scheme, which governs crew working hours and rest periods. The DGCA stated that the large-scale breakdown indicates weaknesses in management oversight and resource deployment. The notice to Elbers emphasised that as CEO, he bears responsibility for maintaining reliable operations and ensuring that passengers have access to adequate facilities and timely information—responsibilities the regulator says were not met.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu held an emergency review meeting with Elbers and senior ministry officials on Saturday, describing the situation as extremely serious. Authorities said that further action will be decided after the inquiry committee submits its findings.
The ongoing disruptions have triggered significant public backlash, with passengers reporting extended waiting periods, confusion at boarding gates, and lack of clarity on refunds and rebooking options. The crisis has also raised broader questions about Indian aviation’s dependence on tightly packed flight schedules and aggressive cost optimisation.
Industry experts warn that unless structural changes are introduced—such as realistic rostering, greater staffing buffers, and improved long-term planning—similar collapses could recur. As the nation’s largest airline, IndiGo’s instability has a ripple effect across the air travel ecosystem, impacting ticket prices, airport infrastructure, and overall passenger confidence.
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