IndiGo’s worst-ever operational crisis entered its sixth day on Sunday with the airline struggling to stabilise its network even as it claimed a recovery. While IndiGo said it had restored over 95 percent of its connectivity, heavy cancellations continued across major airports, prompting deeper government scrutiny and a high-level board intervention.
India’s largest carrier cancelled more than 150 flights on Sunday, including 115 in Hyderabad and 38 in Chennai, leaving thousands of passengers facing uncertainty despite the airline’s assurances of a return to normalcy. This followed nearly 400 cancellations on Saturday—one of the worst single-day disruptions in the airline’s 20-year history.
IndiGo, which commands over 60 percent of the domestic aviation market, has attributed the meltdown to its inadequate preparation for stricter pilot duty and rest norms that came into effect from November 1. The revised rules cap night landings at two (from six earlier) and limit night flying hours to 10. December’s peak travel season, driven by holidays and weddings, added pressure to an already strained roster.
After intense lobbying, IndiGo has now secured exemptions from both measures until February 10, buying the airline time to rebuild schedules without breaching regulations. Still, the ripple effects have been severe.
The government has moved swiftly. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued show-cause notices to CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras, seeking explanations within 24 hours. Officials said action will be taken based on the findings of an inquiry committee looking into the massive disruption.
Amid the crisis, IndiGo's parent company InterGlobe Aviation’s Board of Directors has taken direct charge. IndiGo said the board met on the very first day the disruptions escalated, receiving detailed briefings on the scale and causes of the collapse. This was followed by a board-only session, where members decided to establish a Crisis Management Group (CMG) to oversee real-time recovery efforts.
The CMG includes chairman Vikram Singh Mehta, board directors Gregg Saretsky, Mike Whitaker and Amitabh Kant, along with CEO Pieter Elbers. The group has been meeting regularly, with management providing continuous updates on steps to restore full operations.
IndiGo said the board is “doing everything possible” to support customers, including ensuring timely refunds for cancelled flights. However, with cancellations persisting even after claims of recovery, the airline continues to face tough questions—from passengers, regulators, and policymakers—over what went wrong and how quickly it can rebuild trust in the skies.