IndiGo CEO Admits Could Not Live Up To Promise As Hundreds Cancelled
CEO admits failure as flight disruptions paralyse operations nationwide
IndiGo Airlines faced severe operational turmoil for the second consecutive day as hundreds of flights were cancelled and delayed across major Indian airports, triggering widespread passenger distress and raising serious concerns over the carrier’s operational resilience. Long queues, missed connections, and sudden schedule changes left thousands of travellers stranded, as the cascading impact of the disruptions spread rapidly across the airline’s extensive domestic and international network.
In a candid and unusually apologetic message to employees, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers acknowledged that the airline had failed to honour its commitment to customer satisfaction. He stated that the company serves nearly 3.8 lakh passengers daily and had fallen short of its promise to provide a reliable and comfortable travel experience. The admission reflects the gravity of the situation confronting India’s largest airline by market share.
Elbers attributed the unprecedented disruption to a convergence of multiple operational challenges. These included the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, minor technology-related glitches, frequent last-minute schedule adjustments, adverse weather conditions, and heightened congestion across the aviation ecosystem. According to him, these factors combined to create a domino effect that severely destabilised the airline’s operations over several days.
Also Read: IndiGo Brace for 48 More Hours of Flight Disruptions Amid Crew Shortages and New Rules
The airline stated that it is actively engaging with affected customers to reduce the hardship caused by the mass cancellations and delays. IndiGo has reportedly begun proactive outreach through multiple communication channels, offering rebooking options, refunds, and other forms of assistance. The management has assured passengers that restoring operational stability remains its top priority.
On Thursday alone, more than 300 domestic and international flights were cancelled, while several others experienced prolonged delays at key aviation hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The crisis follows an already turbulent day earlier in the week when over 200 flights were grounded due to a nationwide crew shortage and software-related complications, intensifying scrutiny of the airline’s operational preparedness and crisis response systems.
Also Read: IndiGo Flight Diverted to Ahmedabad After Mid-Air Bomb Threat, Landed Safely
