IndiGo Executives Given Until Monday to Respond to Show-Cause Notices
Regulator extends deadline as airline battles six-day operational meltdown.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday granted a 24-hour extension, until 6 pm Monday, to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidro Porqueras to respond to show-cause notices issued over widespread flight disruptions that have persisted for six consecutive days. The notices, served on Saturday, demanded detailed explanations for the operational collapse that has resulted in hundreds of cancellations and severe delays across the carrier’s network.
Senior DGCA officials confirmed the extension was approved following formal requests from both executives, who cited extraordinary operational pressures and the complexity of coordinating responses amid ongoing nationwide disruptions. The regulator, while maintaining close scrutiny of the situation, agreed to the brief reprieve to ensure comprehensive submissions.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has been grappling with an unprecedented crisis triggered by a combination of crew shortages, technical issues, and adverse weather, forcing the cancellation of approximately 1,600 flights on Friday alone. Although cancellations reduced to around 800 on Saturday, the airline operated only 1,650 of its scheduled 2,300 domestic and international flights on Sunday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
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The government disclosed that IndiGo has processed refunds amounting to ₹610 crore and reunited passengers with 3,000 pieces of delayed baggage as of Saturday. On-time performance from six major metro airports marginally improved to 20.7 per cent on Saturday, yet remained among the lowest in the industry. The carrier now anticipates full operational stabilisation by December 10, earlier than its initial projection of December 10-15.
With passenger inconvenience mounting and public criticism intensifying, the DGCA’s final assessment of the executives’ responses will determine whether further regulatory penalties or corrective directives will be imposed on India’s dominant low-cost carrier.
Also Read: IndiGo Finally Bounces Back – Over 1,500 Flights Resume Today After Massive Disruption
