Centre Plans Tough Action on IndiGo Amid Chaos, Considers Removing CEO Pieter Elbers

The Indian government is poised to launch an unprecedented crackdown on IndiGo Airlines, with sources indicating that authorities may demand the removal of CEO Pieter Elbers over the carrier’s catastrophic handling of revised pilot rest-hour regulations. The crisis, which peaked on December 5–6, 2025, saw IndiGo cancel more than 1,000 flights in a single day, stranding tens of thousands of passengers and triggering nationwide travel chaos. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) summoned senior IndiGo officials for an emergency meeting on Friday evening as anger mounted over skyrocketing fares and prolonged airport delays.

The turmoil stems from the full implementation of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules that mandate longer rest periods for pilots, a reform ordered by the Delhi High Court and phased in since July 2024. Although IndiGo had secured temporary exemptions until February 2026, the airline’s abrupt “system reboot” to realign crew rosters and aircraft positioning caused a domino effect of cancellations. Compounding factors included minor technical snags, dense fog in northern India, and routine air-traffic congestion, but officials and analysts have blamed poor planning by India’s largest carrier, which controls nearly 60% of the domestic market.

In a rare public apology, Pieter Elbers described the episode as the “worst disruption” in IndiGo’s history and admitted the airline had failed passengers. Internal communications revealed by employees show the Dutch CEO, who took charge in September 2022 after leading KLM, had warned staff weeks earlier that the FDTL transition would be “painful.” Despite nine consecutive months of industry-leading on-time performance reported in October 2025, the sudden collapse has exposed deep vulnerabilities in IndiGo’s aggressive expansion strategy and chronic pilot shortage.

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Beyond Elbers’ potential ouster, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is reportedly weighing a heavy financial penalty and, more drastically, a temporary cap on the number of flights IndiGo may operate. Such a move would mark the toughest regulatory action ever taken against a single Indian airline. The DGCA has already granted limited rostering relief, but passenger-rights advocates are demanding mandatory compensation and systemic reforms to prevent similar meltdowns during peak winter travel.

Rival carriers such as Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet have increased capacity on affected routes, though surging demand has driven last-minute fares on some sectors above ₹30,000. Industry experts warn that the episode highlights broader strains in India’s aviation ecosystem, where fleet growth has outpaced pilot training and hiring. With the crucial holiday season underway, the government appears determined to send a strong message that operational lapses endangering public convenience will face severe consequences.

As IndiGo promises a return to near-normal operations between December 10 and 15, the coming days will reveal whether regulatory pressure forces genuine accountability at the top or merely delays a larger reckoning for sustainable growth in one of the world’s fastest-expanding aviation markets. For now, thousands of travellers continue to bear the cost of a crisis many believe was entirely preventable.

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