IndiGo had requested the additional time, citing the scale of its operations and complexity in compiling a full response. (File Photo)
The aviation watchdog has granted IndiGo extra time to reply to a show-cause notice issued over its recent wave of flight cancellations. The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) extended the deadline to 6 pm on Monday, rejecting any further extensions.
IndiGo had requested the additional time, citing the scale of its operations and complexity in compiling a full response. With this extension, the airline now must address the regulator’s concerns by the set time or face unspecified consequences.
IndiGo officials say they will carry out a detailed “root cause analysis” to find out what led to the disruptions. A senior airline source stated that pilot numbers are adequate, but the company lacks buffer resources. The airline also clarified that there has been no hiring freeze that might explain the breakdown.
The analysis aims to reveal whether operational structure, scheduling demands, rostering issues or other internal gaps triggered the massive cancellations. The outcome may shape how IndiGo recovers public trust.
Thousands of stranded passengers are still waiting on resolution. To ease pressure, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) announced it will run special trains on Monday from Dibrugarh to New Delhi and from Guwahati to Howrah.
The NFR has also added extra coaches of various classes to existing trains to accommodate travellers diverted due to flight cancellations. Railway officials acknowledged these moves come in view of the ongoing disruptions at major airports.
The DGCA’s show-cause notice puts IndiGo under a magnifying glass. The regulator expects a thorough explanation for what went wrong and a clear action plan for restoring reliability.
At the same time, customers await refunds, baggage recovery, or alternate transport. The coming days could shape IndiGo’s public image. The airline has promised to fix issues and ensure no repeat of the chaos — but much depends on how it acts now.
The disruption showed how fragile large-scale airline operations can be during peak demand. With hundreds of flights cancelled, thousands of travellers were inconvenienced, leading to demand for alternate transport like trains.
Regulators stepping in sends a strong signal: airlines must remain accountable during operational crises. The industry and passengers will watch closely to see if IndiGo’s remedial actions prevent a repeat — and whether oversight becomes stricter going forward.
