India’s aviation regulator DGCA has flagged IndiGo’s inadequate passenger-handling manpower and crew planning gaps, leading to widespread cancellations. The airline must submit progress reports every 15 days, reduce operations from December 8, and implement immediate crew training and roster restructuring. IndiGo has assured full normalization by February 10, 2026.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stepped up monitoring of IndiGo Airlines following severe disruptions across its network. The regulator observed that IndiGo’s passenger-handling manpower was insufficient to manage crowding caused by cancellations, compounding the inconvenience for travelers.
DGCA has directed IndiGo to submit fortnightly progress reports covering operational improvements, crew availability, and steps taken to stabilize operations. The airline must also outline immediate measures to progressively reduce cancellations, including crew training, roster restructuring, and safety-risk assessments.
IndiGo has acknowledged that disruptions stemmed from misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing Phase-2 of the revised pilot duty rules (FDTL). To minimize disruption, the airline will reduce flight operations from December 8, with cancellations expected to continue for the next 2–3 days.
The regulator will continue real-time monitoring of IndiGo’s network performance over the coming weeks. IndiGo has requested temporary exemptions from certain FDTL provisions for its A320 fleet until February 10, when it expects operations to normalize.
Key Highlights / Major Takeaways
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Passenger Handling: DGCA found IndiGo’s manpower inadequate to manage disruption-induced crowding.
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Regulatory Oversight: Fortnightly progress reports mandated, covering crew availability and operational improvements.
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Immediate Steps: Crew training, roster restructuring, and safety-risk mitigation required.
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Operational Adjustments: Flight reductions from December 8; cancellations to persist for 2–3 days.
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Timeline: IndiGo assures full normalization by February 10, 2026.
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Monitoring: DGCA to continue real-time oversight of IndiGo’s restoration efforts.
Sources: Moneycontrol, News18, India Today.