IndiGo Recovery: Airline Restores 95% Network Connectivity Following Pilot Rest Hour Crisis

Budget carrier IndiGo is showing signs of recovery with reduced flight disruptions on Sunday, following last week's chaotic implementation of new pilot rest hour regulations that left thousands of passengers stranded nationwide.

Here are the key developments in this significant situation:

Delhi airport is experiencing decreased congestion this morning compared to previous days, with only a limited number of cancellations from cities including Jammu, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Nagpur, and Aizawl. Reports indicate eight flight cancellations at Mumbai and 40 at Chennai airport today.

IndiGo plans to operate over 1,500 flights by day's end, restoring more than 95% of its network connectivity. The airline stated, "We are able to operate to 135 out of the existing 138 destinations in operations," a significant improvement from the situation last week when they typically operated approximately 2,300 daily flights.

Yesterday, IndiGo cancelled more than 700 flights serving 113 destinations, which the company attributed to necessary network, system, and roster reconfigurations aimed at enabling a fresh start today with increased flight operations and improved stability.

This substantial number of cancellations adds to the thousands of flights disrupted last week due to IndiGo's miscalculation regarding pilot requirements under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).

The aviation regulator has temporarily relaxed these rules to help address the crisis, but government officials have criticized IndiGo for severe mismanagement that created chaos and anxiety among travelers. The aviation minister has confirmed that regulatory action will follow.

A junior aviation minister revealed that the airline has received a show-cause notice from the aviation regulator, requiring a response within 24 hours.

IndiGo has committed to processing refunds to original payment methods for cancelled flights, following the government's Sunday 8 pm deadline, with warnings that delays would trigger regulatory consequences.

In a fresh statement released this morning, IndiGo disclosed that its Board of Directors received a comprehensive briefing about the delays and cancellations on the first day of the crisis, subsequently forming a Crisis Management Group including chairman Vikram Mehta, CEO Pieter Elbers, and additional board directors.

Attempting to address widespread passenger frustration, an IndiGo spokesperson emphasized that the Board is taking all possible measures to address customer challenges and ensure cancellation refunds while offering waivers for cancellations or rescheduling during this difficult period.

The situation has taken on political dimensions, with Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi attributing the crisis to the "government's monopoly model." Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu contested this view, asserting that the government has consistently worked to enhance competition in the sector.