Things almost back to normal...: Civil Aviation Secretary on disruptions caused by IndiGo's operational crisis, flight cancellations
New Delhi, December 8
Things are almost back to normal after the disruptions caused by the recent IndiGo operational crisis and the government coordinated efforts at various tiers, including airports, amid problems faced by passengers, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha said on Monday.
In an interview with ANI, Sinha said IndiGo has flown more than 1,800 flights today, which is almost normal and other airlines have also flown to their full capacity.
"Things are almost back to normal. Airlines have been performing. In fact, the operations have been very smooth. IndiGo has flown more than 1,800 flights today, which is almost normal. All the other airlines, like Akasa, Air India Express, Air India, Spicejet, they have flown their full capacity. So things are getting back to normal as I see today," Sinha told ANI.
"The worst, in my opinion, was 4th and 5th of December and thereafter things started swinging into action. We coordinated at various tiers; many meetings took place with the senior management of IndiGo, and we also coordinated with the airports, airport directors, both the PPP (public-private partnership) and the AAI airports. Now I think things are almost normal," he said.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu told Rajya Sabha earlier in the day that the problems faced by IndiGo Airlines passengers were linked to the airline's internal crew rostering and operational planning.
He said that thorough consultations have been held with all stakeholders concerning Flight Time Limitations (FTTL) guidelines, and emphasised that there will be no compromise on safety.
The Minister said stringent Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) exist to protect passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations.
"For all passengers who have faced difficulties due to delays and cancellations, strict Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) are in place. Airline operators have to follow these requirements. Regarding the software issue, an inquiry has been made. Continuous technology upgradation happens in this sector. Our vision from the government is to have top global standards for the aviation sector in the country," he said.
Naidu noted that the problems at IndiGo were related "to crew rostering and internal operational planning, which the airline is responsible for managing on a day-to-day basis".
He emphasised that the government is taking the situation seriously and warned, "If there is non-adherence by any operator, we will take very strict action." He also highlighted the government's intent to encourage more players in the aviation sector.
Answering a question from AIADMK member M Thambi Durai, who cited long hours spent stranded and exorbitant fares, the Union Minister expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
He said over five lakh PNR cancellations had been recorded.
"The government has capped fares and created four pricing slabs, taking strict action against non-compliance, and has previously acted to curb unreasonable fare hikes," the minister said.
IndiGo Airlines said on Monday that it has processed refunds worth Rs 827 crore for thousands of passengers, till now, with the rest of the refunds for cancellations up to December 15, 2025.
"Over 4500 bags have been delivered to respective customers, and we are on track to deliver the rest in the next 36 hours," the airlines said in a statement.
The airlines also claimed that it has assisted over 2 lakh customers every day, across various communication channels.
The airlines said it has facilitated stranded customers and arranged over 9,500 hotel rooms, and close to 10,000 cabs/buses between December 1 to December 7.
"Over 1800 flights operated which is up from 1,650 yesterday, and 90% on-time performance (OTP) across the entire network has been registered, up from 75% yesterday," the statement read.
It also said that the all the network coverage has been fully restored, and all cancellations in today's schedule were executed yesterday, ensuring advance notifications being sent to customers.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo's Accountable Manager and Chief Executive Officer a one-time 24-hour extension to respond to the Show Cause Notice issued on December 6 over large-scale operational disruptions and observed non-compliances. The airline had requested more time, citing "operational constraints" linked to the size of its nationwide network and multiple unavoidable factors contributing to the delays.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said on Sunday that it has taken rapid and decisive steps to address the disruption caused by the IndiGo operational crisis and to ensure that passengers do not face continued inconvenience. It said that air travel operations across the country are stabilising at a fast pace.
— ANI
Reader Comments
"Almost back to normal" after how many lakhs of passengers suffered? The minister says they'll take strict action, but why only a show cause notice? The airline's internal planning failure should have consequences. ₹827 crore in refunds shows the scale of the mess.
This is why we need more competition in the sky. When one airline, especially a big one like IndiGo, has issues, it cripples the whole system. Government should fast-track approvals for new airlines as the minister hinted. More options = better for passengers.
I appreciate the transparency in numbers - 1800 flights, 90% OTP, 4500 bags delivered. It shows they are trying to fix it. But the real test is during the upcoming holiday season. Hope they have learned their lesson and have a proper backup plan.
The fare capping by the government is the most important takeaway here. When my IndiGo flight was cancelled, fares on other airlines had skyrocketed. The four pricing slabs are a necessary shield for the common man. This should be permanent, not just during crises.
As someone who travels frequently for work, this was a nightmare. The coordination between the ministry and airports seemed to work eventually, but the initial response was too slow. The "operational constraints" excuse for a delayed reply to DGCA doesn't inspire confidence.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.