New Delhi: After nearly a week of widespread flight disruptions, IndiGo announced on Sunday that it has re-established most of its network, scheduling more than 1,500 flights and reconnecting 135 of its 138 destinations. The airline described Saturday’s sharp reduction, when it operated just over 700 flights, as a planned “reboot” to stabilise rosters and systems following severe operational disturbances that left thousands of passengers stranded.
IndiGo acknowledged that while a majority of services are back on track, the airline still has “a long way to go” in restoring full confidence among passengers. It expressed gratitude to staff, customers, partners, and government agencies for their support during the disruption.
The airline’s recovery comes amid heightened political and regulatory scrutiny. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram called the situation a “massive failure,” pointing to lapses not only in IndiGo’s management but also at the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA. He criticised the government for inadequate preparedness in helping airlines adapt to the revised Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL) introduced in January 2024.
In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued show cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager/COO Isidro Porqueras, citing “significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management.” Both executives have been given 24 hours to respond.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu also convened a high-level meeting with Elbers on Saturday to review the disruptions and examine corrective measures. Officials indicated that actions will follow based on the findings of an enquiry committee assessing IndiGo’s handling of the FDTL implementation and operational challenges.
IndiGo’s statement reiterated that Saturday’s scale-back was a controlled step aimed at rebooting operations, and the airline stressed its commitment to stabilising schedules while rebuilding passenger trust.
By Sunday evening, the airline had restored operations to more than 95% of its destinations, signalling a major step toward normalcy after one of the most disruptive periods in its recent history.
