IndiGo to surrender unused airport slots as it moves toward operational reset

IndiGo

• IndiGo to surrender unused slots
• Airline is confident of maintaining operational stability without flight cancellations after Feb 10
• IndiGo says it is evaluating DGCA orders

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India’s largest airline IndiGo will hand back airport slots it is no longer utilising, as it undertakes a course correction following regulatory action triggered by large-scale operational disruptions last month.

The move comes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered IndiGo to cut its flight schedule by 10% in December, following an unprecedented breakdown in operations that left more than 300,000 passengers stranded and resulted in over 4,500 flight cancellations.

Speaking to analysts, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said airlines have a responsibility to return slots they are unable to operate. “If airlines are operating certain slots, then it is the duty of the airline to hand back unutilized slots arising out of non-utilization or planned consolidations,” he said.

Elbers added that the airline has clarity on its operational plan for the near term. “We know what our plan is for the next two months. We are handing these slots back. Their reallocation though is the prerogative of the airports and that will be part of further evaluation going forward,” he said.

IndiGo currently operates around 2,200 domestic and international flights daily. The airline has assured the regulator that it will maintain operational stability without flight cancellations after February 10, when a temporary exemption from the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms expires.

While Elbers declined to disclose the exact number of pilots employed by IndiGo, industry estimates suggest the airline has more than 2,400 Airbus captains against a requirement of around 2,280.

On January 17, the DGCA released key findings of a four-member inquiry committee set up to examine the causes behind IndiGo’s December disruptions. The committee concluded that the primary reasons were over-optimisation of operations, inadequate regulatory preparedness, deficiencies in system software support, and shortcomings in management structure and operational control.

The report said IndiGo’s management failed to identify planning deficiencies, maintain sufficient operational buffers, and effectively implement the revised FDTL provisions. These failures led to widespread delays and cancellations, severely inconveniencing passengers.

Following the findings, the DGCA directed IndiGo to relieve Senior Vice President (Operations Control Centre) Jason Herter of his current operational responsibilities and barred him from holding any accountable position, citing failures in systemic planning and timely implementation of FDTL norms.

Responding to the regulator’s orders, Elbers said to Moneycontrol the airline was reviewing them. “We are in receipt of the orders of the DGCA and they are being evaluated. The board and the management of IndiGo are committed to take full cognizance of these orders and will in a timely manner take the appropriate measures,” he said.

He added that the airline has initiated a broader internal review. “An in-depth review of the robustness of internal processes is on the way and we are engaging with the DGCA on the orders when it comes to ensuring a smooth transition and ensuring continuity and stability of the operations itself,” Elbers said.