The regulator also asked IndiGo to detail the reasons behind the large number of flight delays and cancellations, and sought a plan from the carrier to mitigate the crisis.
At airports across India, over 150 IndiGo flights are estimated to have been cancelled, with many more facing long delays on Wednesday.
Flights departing from Delhi’s IGIA were delayed by an average of 50 minutes, according to live flight tracking website Flightradar24. Arrivals were relatively smooth with an average delay of 12 minutes.
IndiGo has been hit with flight disruptions over the past few days due to a combination of factors—primarily crew shortage being faced by the carrier following the implementation of new crew rest and duty norms. Additionally, some technology-related issues and congestion at airports has added to the cascading delays and flight cancellations, according to the airline.
“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is currently investigating the situation and evaluating measures along with the airline, to reduce cancellations and delays, in order to minimise inconvenience being caused to passengers… Indigo has been asked to report to DGCA, Headquarters, to present the facts leading to the current situation along with plans to mitigate the ongoing delays & cancellations,” the DGCA said in statement Wednesday night.
While IndiGo did not elaborate on the calibrated adjustments, which will be in place for 48 hours, sources indicated that it would involve rescheduling and cancellation of some flights to stabilise operations in line with crew availability.
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“A multitude of unforeseen operational challenges including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules (Flight Duty Time Limitations) had a negative compounding impact on our operations in a way that was not feasible to be anticipated,” IndiGo said in a statement on Wednesday.
“To contain the disruption and restore stability, we have initiated calibrated adjustments to our schedules. These measures will remain in place for the next 48 hours,” it added.
Pilot associations blamed IndiGo for the disruptions, saying that the airline was ill-prepared for the new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) rules despite having sufficient notice.
Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) said the flight disruptions reflected a failure of proactive resource planning by dominant airlines, adding that there could be an effort to pressurise the DGCA to dilute the new norms.
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The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) said the disruption is a direct consequence of IndiGo’s “prolonged and unorthodox lean manpower strategy across departments, particularly in flight operations”. It also claimed that there are growing concerns that flight delays and cancellations may be used to “arm-twist regulators” whenever rules do not suit the airlines.
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