Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday came down heavily on IndiGo’s top management, issuing show-cause notices to CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras after the airline’s massive operational collapse this week left thousands of passengers stranded across the country.

The regulator has given both officials 24 hours to explain why enforcement action should not be initiated against them for what it described as serious lapses in planning, oversight, and compliance. According to sources, the notices underline that the large-scale flight disruptions reflect prima facie violations of Aircraft Rules, 1937, and shortcomings in implementing the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. IndiGo, the notices say, also failed to provide mandatory facilities to passengers during delays and cancellations.

The DGCA’s notice to Elbers reportedly stated that, as CEO, he is responsible for ensuring reliable operations and adequate passenger services, but the airline failed to make timely arrangements on both counts.

With over 1,000 flights cancelled on Friday alone and more than 800 on Saturday, airports across India witnessed chaos. Passengers were left scrambling for updates as IndiGo struggled to cope with severe crew shortages triggered by the rollout of the new FDTL rules. IndiGo has admitted to the regulator that it misjudged crew requirements and failed to plan for the second phase of the norms.

Data shared by the airline shows it needs 2,422 captains and 2,153 first officers for its Airbus A320 operations under the new rules. It currently has 2,357 captains and 2,194 first officers—falling short on both counts. Though the new norms apply to all airlines, IndiGo has been hit the hardest due to its large network, high-frequency night operations, and high crew utilisation levels, leaving little room for contingency.

A four-member inquiry committee set up by the DGCA will submit its report within two weeks, and strict action is expected once operations stabilise. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, and DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai reviewed the situation on Saturday in a meeting with Elbers, who was asked to act immediately to restore normal operations.

The regulator has allowed IndiGo temporary one-time exemptions from certain night operations provisions under the FDTL rules until February 10, offering the airline limited breathing space to stabilise schedules. IndiGo expects normalcy to return between December 10 and 15.

Elbers, who took charge of IndiGo in 2022 after leading KLM for eight years, has overseen the airline’s aggressive expansion and entry into long-haul segments. Under his leadership, IndiGo has built a fleet of over 400 aircraft and operates more than 2,300 daily flights, dominating 60 per cent of India’s domestic aviation market. However, the ongoing crisis marks one of the most significant operational setbacks in the airline’s history.