IndiGo under fire after mass cancellations; fare caps imposed, CEO removal on cards as DGCA cites operational failures and hiring lapse of 64 pilots

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has initiated a high-level probe into IndiGo Airlines after thousands of flight cancellations over three days stranded passengers across major Indian airports. The government is considering removal of IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, heavy financial penalties, and flight-operation restrictions in response to what officials describe as “serious lapses in planning and compliance.”

The DGCA stated that the crisis stemmed from “deficiencies in internal oversight, operational preparedness, and compliance planning” under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms intended to reduce pilot fatigue. IndiGo controls nearly two-thirds of India’s domestic aviation market, making the disruption unprecedented in scale.

Only 64 Pilot Hires Could Have Prevented Chaos

According to DGCA officials, IndiGo needed to hire just 64 additional pilots to comply with the new safety regulations. Despite being notified a year in advance, IndiGo failed to recruit the required pilots and instead expanded its routes and schedules, leading to operational breakdown.

A senior aviation official said, “This disruption was avoidable. Hiring 64 pilots would have aligned them with FDTL norms. Instead, they expanded aggressively without adequate staff.”

Govt Acts Against Monopoly, Imposes Fare Cap

Civil Aviation officials confirmed that airlines, including IndiGo, raised fares sharply amid the cancellations, with some Delhi–Mumbai tickets crossing ₹80,000. Following public outrage, the ministry invoked regulatory powers and imposed a mandatory fare cap on affected routes, warning carriers against “opportunistic pricing.”

“Passenger interest cannot be compromised. Fair and reasonable fares must be maintained,” a ministry statement declared.

CEO Exit, Flight Reductions Under Review

Sources say the government is likely to seek the removal of IndiGo’s CEO, with the possibility of criminal proceedings if “deliberate negligence” is established. Officials are also considering reducing IndiGo’s flight quota and monopoly over key routes.

A senior civil aviation officer said, “No other airline faced this level of disruption under the same rules. Accountability is unavoidable.”

The airline reportedly failed to hire adequate pilots despite being warned a year in advance about tightened rest-hour regulations. IndiGo allegedly expanded routes instead of recruiting additional staff.

PIL Reaches Supreme Court, Passenger Compensation Demanded

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has reached the Supreme Court, seeking compensation for passengers and judicial oversight of the DGCA investigation. The plea demands automatic refunds and punitive action for “avoidable harassment of passengers.”

The petition argues that financial punishments must reflect losses, distress and operational monopoly abuse.

Impact on India’s Aviation Sector

Officials state that the crackdown on IndiGo will set a long-term regulatory benchmark for airlines with dominant market power. Fare caps will remain until the situation stabilizes, and additional competition measures may follow.

The IndiGo probe is expected to redefine aviation accountability, enforce pilot safety rules, and curb monopolistic pricing.