New Delhi: India’s competition watchdog on Thursday said it is reviewing allegations of antitrust violations against budget carrier IndiGo in the wake of recent large-scale flight disruptions that severely impacted air travel across the country.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has taken cognisance of information filed against the airline in connection with the widespread cancellations witnessed earlier this month. Following a preliminary assessment, the regulator said it has decided to proceed further, though it did not disclose specific details of the complaints or the nature of the allegations.
IndiGo had cancelled around 4,500 flights due to issues linked to pilot roster planning, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded. The disruption, one of the most significant in recent years, drew sharp criticism and affected the airline’s public image, even as it continues to dominate India’s domestic aviation sector with a market share exceeding 60 per cent.
The episode also brought renewed attention to concerns over limited competition in the aviation market, where IndiGo and Air India together control more than 90 per cent of domestic capacity. During the period of cancellations, airfares rose sharply on several routes, prompting the government to step in and impose temporary fare caps to protect passengers.
IndiGo has not issued an immediate response to the developments. The CCI has the power to refer the matter to its investigation wing for a detailed probe if it finds sufficient grounds to do so.
