IndiGo, in a statement on Sunday, on the sixth day of its operational crisis, said its Board of Directors had convened immediately after the first day of widespread flight cancellations and delays to assess the scale of the disruptions.
The Board had received a detailed briefing from management on the nature and extent of the crisis, it stated. It had subsequently set up a Crisis Management Group (CMG), comprising Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta, Board Directors Gregg Saretsky, Mike Whitaker, Amitabh Kant, and CEO Pieter Elbers, to closely monitor and manage operations.
IndiGo said the CMG has been meeting regularly and receiving continuous updates from management on measures being taken to restore normal operations. Telephonic discussions have also been held with Board members who are not part of the CMG to ensure full coordination.
According to the statement, the Board’s primary objective is to address passenger hardships swiftly while restoring operational integrity across the airline’s network. IndiGo also reaffirmed its commitment to process refunds for cancelled flights and to provide waivers on cancellations and rescheduling during the period of disruption.
An IndiGo spokesperson said, “The Board of Directors is doing everything possible to support our customers and ensure that operations return to normal as quickly as practically possible.”
Meanwhile, IndiGo’s operational turmoil entered its sixth day on Sunday, stranding thousands of passengers across India despite the airline’s claim that 95 percent of its network connectivity has been restored.
The crisis, driven by poor preparation for new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and acute pilot shortages, has triggered regulatory scrutiny, government intervention, and political backlash.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Saturday, issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras, demanding explanations within 24 hours for the airline’s large-scale operational failures. The regulator has cited “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management” as the primary reasons behind the disruptions.
The DGCA has blamed IndiGo’s ongoing disruption on its poor preparation for the newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which regulate pilot duty hours and rest periods. The airline’s failure to adjust crew rosters and resources, compounded by existing pilot shortages, triggered a wave of delays and cancellations.
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