IndiGo Under Dual Regulatory Fire: CCI Probe, DGCA Suspensions, ₹500-Crore Compensation Amid Prolonged Flight Disruption Crisis
New Delhi: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing intense regulatory scrutiny as the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated an inquiry to examine whether the carrier violated prescribed competition norms.
A senior government official confirmed on Friday that the matter is currently under active examination.
Adding to the pressure, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took strong disciplinary action on Friday by suspending four Flight Operations Directors (FODs) associated with IndiGo.
The move reflects heightened regulatory oversight amid growing concerns over the airline’s operational compliance and safety governance.
DGCA Action and Role of Suspended Officials
Flight Operations Directors are senior DGCA-appointed officials entrusted with critical responsibilities such as aviation regulation, safety oversight, pilot supervision, and operational inspections.
These officials are often deputed to airlines to closely monitor daily operations and ensure strict adherence to safety and regulatory norms.
According to the official DGCA notification, the four suspended officials are Raj (Rishi) Raj Chatterjee, Seema Jhamani, Anil Kumar Pokhariyal, and Priyam Kaushik. The order states that all four have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.
Sources indicated that these officers were directly involved in operational checks, safety audits, and regulatory inspections linked to the enforcement of aviation norms at IndiGo.
Persistent Flight Disruptions at Major Airports
The regulatory action comes against the backdrop of a prolonged operational crisis. For the 11th consecutive day, IndiGo cancelled nearly 160 flights from the key aviation hubs of Delhi and Bengaluru, intensifying passenger inconvenience across the country.
A day earlier, on Thursday, the airline had cancelled over 200 flights from the same two airports.
According to official sources:
- Delhi Airport:
- 105 flights cancelled, including 52 departures and 53 arrivals
- Bengaluru Airport:
- 54 flights cancelled, comprising 31 arrivals and 23 departures
₹500 Crore Compensation and Passenger Relief Measures
Amid mounting criticism, crisis-hit IndiGo acknowledged the scale of passenger disruption and announced that the estimated compensation payout could exceed ₹500 crore.
In a statement, the airline said it is in the process of identifying flights where passengers were severely impacted or stranded at airports on December 3, 4, and 5.
The airline added that it would reach out to affected passengers in January to ensure compensation is processed smoothly.
IndiGo also said it expects to operate over 2,000 flights on Friday, indicating that operations are gradually moving toward normalcy after more than 10 days of widespread cancellations that left thousands of passengers stranded nationwide.
Independent Probe Ordered by IndiGo Board
In a significant internal step, IndiGo’s board has approved the appointment of a specialised consulting firm to independently investigate the disruption.
The airline announced that Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by Captain John Illson, will conduct a root-cause analysis of the operational failures and recommend corrective measures.
This decision follows the recommendation of the airline’s Crisis Management Group (CMG), which was constituted by the board specifically to address the unfolding crisis.
The CMG advised commissioning an external expert review to ensure transparency and accountability.
CEO Appearance, Vouchers, and Government Response
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers appeared before aviation regulators on Thursday as the airline announced additional relief for affected passengers. IndiGo offered a ₹10,000 travel voucher, valid for 12 months, to passengers stranded between December 3 and 5.
This was over and above ticket refunds and government-mandated compensation ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
Despite these measures, flight cancellations continued on Friday as the government adopted a tougher stance.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu squarely blamed IndiGo’s “gross mismanagement” and flaws in its crew rostering system for triggering a crisis that affected millions of passengers this month.
With regulatory probes, suspensions of oversight officials, a massive compensation bill, and operational reforms underway, IndiGo is now navigating one of the most challenging phases in its history.
#IndiGoCrisis #DGCA #CCIProbe #FlightCancellations #IndianAviation #PassengerRights #AviationRegulation #DelhiAirport #BengaluruAirport #AirlineDisruptions
