IndiGo Gets One-Day Extension From DGCA To Reply To Show-Cause Notice Amid Flight Chaos

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday granted IndiGo a one-day extension after CEO Pieter Elbers requested more time to respond to the show-cause notice over widespread flight delays

and cancellations. The airline must now submit its reply by 6 PM on December 8.

The notice comes after the regulator issued a second show-cause to IndiGo, seeking an explanation for operational disruptions that caused severe inconvenience to passengers.

The DGCA noted that the primary reason for the chaos was the airline’s failure to make adequate arrangements for the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) scheme.

According to the regulator, these large-scale operational lapses indicate serious shortcomings in planning, oversight, and resource management. The failures were described as prima facie non-compliance with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, as well as provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) relating to duty periods, flight time limits, and rest periods for flight crew.

The DGCA also said the airline did not provide passengers with the necessary information and facilities during cancellations, delays, and denied boarding.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, cancelled over 650 flights on Sunday while slowly stabilising operations. The airline has processed over Rs 610 crore in ticket refunds for affected passengers. The board of its parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, has set up a Crisis Management Group (CMG) to monitor the situation. IndiGo expects normal operations to resume by December 10.

The civil aviation ministry said air travel across the country is stabilising, with IndiGo’s daily operations rising from 706 flights on Friday to 1,565 on Saturday and expected to reach 1,650 by the end of Sunday.

Around 650 flights remain cancelled. The ministry has also overseen expedited refunds and ensured delivery of 3,000 delayed pieces of baggage to passengers.

(With inputs from PTI)