IndiGo Crisis Persists: DGCA Cracks Down on Management as Passengers Turn to Trains
New Delhi:The widespread disruption in Indian aviation shows no signs of slowing down as the IndiGo flight crisis enters its sixth day. Despite assurances from the airline that 95% of its network connectivity has been restored, passengers across the country continue to face significant hurdles, with hundreds of flights grounded and delay notifications piling up.
The situation remains grim at major hubs. In Hyderabad alone, travelers woke up to a chaotic Sunday morning with over 100 flights dropped from the schedule. Similar disruptions were reported in Trichy, where 11 scheduled services—including both arrivals and departures—were cancelled. Passengers in Mumbai and Srinagar also faced cancellations on key routes to Kolkata, Nagpur, Bhopal, and Amritsar.
DGCA Takes a Tough Stand
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stepped in with strict regulatory action. The aviation watchdog issued a second show-cause notice to the airline's top leadership, specifically naming CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras.
In a stern communication, the regulator highlighted "significant lapses" in resource management and planning. The DGCA noted that the management "failed in their duty" to ensure reliable operations, leading to severe distress for travelers. The airline has been given 24 hours to explain why this operational collapse occurred, with the regulator citing potential violations of flight duty time limitations and crew rest rules (Rule 42A).
Railways to the Rescue
As air travel becomes unreliable, Indian Railways is stepping up to assist stranded passengers. The Western Railway zone has announced the deployment of special trains to handle the sudden surge in demand.
Officials confirmed that a special Sabarmati–Delhi train will operate on December 7 and 9. Additionally, extra coaches are being attached to several popular long-distance trains. This includes an extra AC 3-tier coach for the Ahmedabad-Thawe route, a second AC coach for the Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani, and a sleeper coach for the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express.
Travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport as the airline struggles to stabilize its roster.
