IndiGo crisis enters day 7; 250 flights cancelled in Delhi, Bengaluru; Mumbai also hit by cancellations
Over 250 IndiGo flights were cancelled from Delhi and Bengaluru airports on Monday as the disruptions in the crisis-hit airline's flight operations entered the seventh day, sources said. Hyderabads Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) reported 77 IndiGo flights affected so far, 38 arrivals and 39 departures cancelled, airport authorities confirmed. The ripple effect of IndiGos operational issues was also felt in Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where passengers faced widespread delays and cancellations. The ongoing turmoil has prompted aviation regulator DGCA to extend the deadline for IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COOAccountable Manager Isidro Porqueras to respond to its show-cause notices. The replies, originally due within 24 hours of the notices issued on Saturday, must now be submitted by 6 pm on Monday. In its notice, the DGCA flagged significant lapses in IndiGos planning, oversight, and resource management, pointing to large-scale operational failures that have stranded lakhs of passengers since December 2. The airline attributed the disruptions to regulatory changes in flight duty time limitations (FDTL) for pilots. The nationwide disruptions also prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue a formal appeal to all pilot bodies, urging full cooperation as airlines navigate mounting operational strain. The regulator noted that unpredictable weather, peak holiday travel, seasonal demand, and rising passenger loads are compounding pressures on airline operations. With the onset of the fog season and heavy winter travel, the DGCA warned of further challenges ahead. Following the appeal, the Airlines Pilots Association of India (ALPA India) said it is ready to fully support the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation in managing the crisis, but cautioned that rolling back the revised Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms would compromise fatigue protection and passenger safety. Is IndiGo too big to fail? And what about lack of pilots leading to the flight chaos theory?
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