India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is currently grappling with a significant crisis, having cancelled over 300 flights since Tuesday, which has left thousands of passengers stranded across the country. The busiest airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru have experienced the most severe disruptions.
The airline attributed the widespread cancellations to a combination of technical glitches, adverse weather conditions, and the implementation of new crew rostering regulations. IndiGo, which commands more than 60% of the domestic market share, plays a crucial role in connecting both major metropolitan areas and smaller cities throughout India.
In response to the ongoing situation, IndiGo announced that it has made “calibrated adjustments” to its flight schedule until Friday as a means to stabilize operations. Reports have indicated that cancellations on Thursday morning included 33 flights in Delhi, 85 in Mumbai, and 73 in Bengaluru. The situation has incited frustration among passengers, with many taking to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their concerns. Most received the airline’s standard response, stating that their operations are influenced by multiple factors, some of which are beyond their control.
India’s aviation regulator has reportedly initiated an investigation into these disruptions and is seeking explanations from IndiGo regarding the reasons behind the cancellations and delays. Since the start of November, IndiGo has faced challenges related to pilot and crew shortages due to new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) regulations that restrict flight hours and require additional rest periods. However, the Federation of Indian Pilots has stated that these cancellations “cannot be attributed” to the new rules, pointing out that other airlines have not been as affected.
This crisis comes at a challenging time for IndiGo, which has built its reputation on punctuality over the past two decades. Recently, however, its operational performance has come under scrutiny. According to a recent survey by LocalCircles, 54% of IndiGo’s passengers have reported experiencing issues with flight timeliness in the last year.
While the current circumstances present significant challenges for IndiGo, the airline’s proactive adjustments to its schedule and engagement with regulatory authorities may help restore stability and rebuild passenger trust in the long run.
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