Crisis in the Skies: DGCA Summons IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers; Orders 10% Flight Curtailment Amid Massive Disruptions
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has cracked the whip on the country’s largest airline, IndiGo, following a week of severe operational chaos. In a stern move, the regulator has ordered IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to appear before the DGCA on Thursday, December 11, at 3:00 PM to present comprehensive data regarding the airline's network-wide meltdown.
This directive comes just a day after the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) ordered a forced 10% curtailment of IndiGo’s flight schedule, doubling down on the DGCA’s initial 5% cut proposal.
The Summons: What Elbers Must Explain
The Thursday meeting is set to be a grilling session, with senior officials from all relevant departments directed to attend. The DGCA has demanded a "status report" on several critical fronts:
- Restoration Plan: A timeline for bringing operations back to normal.
- Crew Recruitment: Concrete data on pilot and cabin crew strength and the recruitment pipeline.
- Passenger Relief: Updates on refunds for cancelled flights, the clearing of piled-up baggage at airports, and re-routing strategies for stranded passengers.
- Communication: An audit of the airline's SMS and email alert systems, which have faced heavy criticism for failing to inform passengers of delays in time.
The 10% Cut: A Major Blow
IndiGo, which commands a staggering 65% domestic market share with over 2,300 daily flights, is now facing a government-mandated reduction.
- The Math: A 10% cut means IndiGo’s daily domestic flights will drop to fewer than 1,950.
- The Impact: While sources claim IndiGo hopes to ramp up operations soon, the freed-up slots may be offered to rival carriers if they have the capacity to deploy flights immediately.
The Root Cause: "Planning Gaps" and FDTL Norms
The crisis, which peaked last Friday with over 1,600 cancellations, stems from a severe crew shortage. The primary trigger was the implementation of the second phase of the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, which kicked in on November 1, 2025.
Designed to combat pilot fatigue by ensuring more rest and rationalizing night shifts, the new rules required a larger pool of pilots to maintain the same schedule. In review meetings, IndiGo management reportedly admitted that the disruptions arose from "misjudgment and planning gaps," acknowledging that the actual crew requirement exceeded their calculations.
Temporary Relief: To help the airline stabilize, the DGCA has granted a one-time exemption from certain night operation norms for Airbus A320 pilots until February 10, 2026.
"Strict Action": Government Turns Up the Heat
The government is in no mood for leniency. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has publicly blamed lapses on IndiGo’s part, stating that "sufficient notice" was given for the new rules.
- Inquiry Launched: A DGCA panel has initiated a formal inquiry into the disruption.
- Show Cause Notices: Notices have already been issued to CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidre Porqueras.
- Minister's Warning: Naidu asserted that strict action will be taken based on the inquiry report to "set an example" for the industry.
IndiGo's Stance: "Operations Stabilised"
Despite the regulatory heat, IndiGo issued a statement on Tuesday claiming that operations have "stabilised and normalised."
- Tuesday Stats: The airline operated over 1,800 flights with an On-Time Performance (OTP) back above 80%.
- Wednesday Outlook: The carrier expects to operate around 1,900 flights today.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
For the average flyer, the last week has been a nightmare of stranded luggage and last-minute cancellations. The DGCA's intervention is a welcome move, but the mandated schedule cut implies that "normalcy" might mean fewer flight options for the near future. As the winter travel season peaks, all eyes are on Thursday's meeting to see if IndiGo can present a credible roadmap out of this turbulence.
Stay tuned to TheTrendingPeople.com for live updates on the DGCA-IndiGo meeting.