The government took a tough stance on the Indigo flight crisis and said that there will be no compromise on rostering rules. More than 500 flights cancelled, DGCA investigation ongoing, Rs 750 crore refund process. Preparations to promote new airlines also started. Read the full report.
New Delhi. India’s largest airline IndiGo has been stuck in a crisis for the last few days which has exposed the weaknesses of the country’s aviation sector. Crowd of passengers at airports, frequent cancellation of flights and controversy over rostering – all these together brought the trust flying in the air to the ground. For the first time, the government has said in very strong words that there will be no negotiation on the rostering rules of pilots and crew, no matter how big the airline is. This statement of Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu shows that this crisis of IndiGo is not just a ‘management lapse’ but also a part of a deep system failure. After all, what is the root of this turmoil? Were rostering rules really such a big reason? Or is the story hidden somewhere else?
Did rostering rules ground IndiGo flights?
Last week, there was panic among the passengers after more than 500 flights were suddenly cancelled. There was so much chaos at the airports that many people remained stranded for hours. It was said that the main reason for this was the shortage of pilots and the disturbance in the crew roster. Two years ago, the government had implemented new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitation) rules, the aim of which was to reduce pilot fatigue and make flights safer. But Indigo – which has been working with less downtime than before – could not prepare for these rules. As a result, pilot schedules were suddenly disrupted, crews were short and flights were being canceled frequently. Did IndiGo ignore the risks, or did the crisis really come suddenly?
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Why did DGCA relax the rules? Did the pressure work?
When the situation started getting out of control, DGCA temporarily relaxed the night duty rules. This decision was taken so quickly that experts started raising questions.
Did Indigo apply pressure?
The government rejected these claims, saying “There can be no compromise on security. This relief was only to restore operational balance.” But this decision deepened the debate.
Is Indigo’s strength becoming its weakness today?
- Indigo’s market share is 65%.
- Air India is at 27%.
- That means there is almost a duopoly like situation in domestic aviation.
- In this situation, if Indigo falters, the entire system shakes.
- For this reason the minister said- “Now new airlines will be promoted.”
Refund of Rs 750 crore – did this end the problems of passengers?
- More than 7 lakh PNRs were canceled between December 1 and December 8.
- Indigo has claimed that it has processed refunds of Rs 750 crore.
But the pain of passengers is not limited to money only:
- wedding dates messed up
- missed job interview
- weeks of planning wasted
This sudden crisis also forced one to ask whether the country’s largest airline is being crushed under the burden of its own size?
Is the ‘technical glitch’ reported by IndiGo the real reason?
IndiGo, in its response to the show cause notice, said the crisis was caused by:
- technical glitches
- winter schedule changes
- bad weather
- airport crowd
- Challenges of implementing FDTL
Can this crisis become the turning point for Indian aviation?
Both the government and Indigo are now busy strengthening their respective positions. Minister’s clear message “No airline is above the rules.” IndiGo’s response: “We are improving the situation.” But this entire controversy has made one thing clear… India now needs a more strong, transparent and balanced aviation system.
Did the government bow down to Indigo… or did the pressure backfire?
When DGCA tried to provide relief to IndiGo by temporarily relaxing the rules, experts termed it wrong. He said that the government came under pressure due to the airline having such a huge market share. Minister Naidu said, “This matter was not taken lightly. This is an example for all the airlines in the country.” But Minister Naidu clarified that “We are not under any pressure from any airline. The rules are the same for everyone. Safety is paramount. So is this move a warning to IndiGo that it will now have to think twice before making moves?