India’s largest airline IndiGo is facing heightened regulatory scrutiny as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) investigates lapses that led to a major operational disruption across its network. According to reports, a senior expatriate member of IndiGo’s top management — excluding the CEO — is under the scanner, with regulatory action likely.
The probe follows the DGCA’s decision to deploy a panel of eight Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) to oversee IndiGo’s functioning until operations stabilise. The inspectors have reportedly flagged serious weaknesses, particularly within the airline’s Operations Control Centre (OCC), which has been identified as a key failure point during the recent meltdown.
As a temporary measure, IndiGo has shifted to issuing only two-day flight rosters for pilots, meaning crew members are aware of their schedules for just 48 hours in advance. This arrangement will continue until the OCC systems are fully restored. The situation has been further complicated by the onset of dense winter fog across North India, which requires pilots trained for low-visibility operations to be specifically rostered for early morning and late-night flights at airports such as Delhi, Amritsar and Lucknow.
Amid the crisis, the DGCA recently terminated four FOIs for allegedly failing to prevent the disruption, a move that has reportedly caused discontent within the regulator’s ranks. Sources indicate that some inspectors feel they have been unfairly blamed and are considering stepping down from their roles.
The situation has been exacerbated by widespread flight disruptions due to low visibility conditions. Aviation officials indicated that pre-emptive cancellations were preferred in some cases to minimise passenger inconvenience.
Separately, flight operations at Hindon Airport have also been curtailed this winter, with arrivals and departures reduced by nearly half due to operational constraints and shortened visibility windows. IndiGo has cancelled two flights from the airport, which operates only between sunrise and sunset and has limited parking capacity.
As IndiGo trims capacity, other airlines are assessing their options. Air India has offered to operate up to 275 additional flights this month, while Akasa Air has sought clarity from the government on the duration of IndiGo’s capacity cuts to plan additional services later in January. However, aviation officials caution that the gap left by IndiGo can only be partially and temporarily filled.
The aviation ministry is expected to take a final call on IndiGo’s capacity reductions and their duration early this week, even as industry stakeholders stress that restoring IndiGo’s full operations remains the most effective long-term solution.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
