India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Saturday issued a stern show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. The notice directly holds Elbers accountable for widespread flight cancellations and disruptions that have severely impacted air travel across the country in recent days. The DGCA accused the airline of "large-scale operational failures" and stated that Elbers "failed in your duty" to ensure reliable operations.^[1][2][3] IndiGo has been given 24 hours to respond, explaining why enforcement action should not be taken against its top management.^[1][2][4] ### Regulator Cites Lapses in Planning and Compliance The DGCA's notice, issued on December 6, 2025, highlighted significant lapses in IndiGo's planning, oversight, and resource management.^[1][5][6] It specifically pointed to the airline's "prima facie non-compliance" with provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 (Rule 42A), and Civil Aviation Requirements related to pilot fatigue management.^[1][6] The regulator also noted IndiGo's failure to provide essential information and facilities to affected passengers, which is mandatory during flight delays and cancellations.^[2][5][6] IndiGo's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Isidre Porqueras, who also serves as the accountable manager, received a similar notice.^[2][5] The core issue, according to the DGCA, is IndiGo's inadequate preparation for the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) scheme.^[7][3][6] These new rules, which came into full effect on November 1, 2025, aim to enhance flight safety by mandating increased rest periods for pilots and restricting flight duty hours.^[2][8][9] "As the CEO, you are responsible for ensuring effective management of the airlines, but you have failed in your duty to ensure timely arrangements for the conduct of reliable operations and the availability of requisite facilities to the passenger," the DGCA notice stated to Elbers.^[1][3][10] ### Unprecedented Cancellations and Passenger Distress The crisis escalated dramatically in the first week of December, with IndiGo experiencing an unprecedented number of cancellations. On December 5, 2025, the airline cancelled over 1,000 flights, marking the worst single-day disruption by an Indian carrier.^[7][9][11] In November alone, IndiGo reported 1,232 flight cancellations, with 755 attributed to crew and FDTL-related constraints.^[12] The airline's on-time performance (OTP) plummeted to 3.7 percent on Friday, December 5, 2025, a sharp decline from 84.1 percent in October.^[7][12][13] Thousands of passengers found themselves stranded at major airports across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.^[5][14][15] The widespread disruptions led to chaos, overcrowding, and a significant spike in airfares on alternative flights.^[16][14][15] In response, the Ministry of Civil Aviation intervened, directing IndiGo to clear all pending refunds by Sunday, December 7, 2025, and imposing fare caps on domestic routes to prevent price gouging.^[16][13] ### Root Causes: FDTL Rules and Manpower Shortages A primary reason for the extensive disruptions is IndiGo's apparent failure to adjust its operations and crew planning to meet the new FDTL norms.^[2][7][6] These rules increased weekly rest for pilots from 36 to 48 hours and reduced night landings.^[17][18][9] Critics, including pilot associations, argue that IndiGo had ample time, up to 18 months, to prepare for these changes but failed to hire sufficient crew or restructure rosters effectively.^[12][8] The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) suggested the crisis stemmed from IndiGo's "prolonged and unorthodox lean manpower strategy."^[12] IndiGo acknowledged facing "unforeseen operational challenges," including minor technology glitches, winter schedule changes, and increased congestion.^[12][9] However, the full impact of the FDTL rules, combined with a 6 percent increase in winter flight schedules and dense fog in northern India, created a "domino effect" across its hub-and-spoke network.^[14][9] This meant a single delay or cancellation in one city quickly led to crew and aircraft shortages elsewhere.^[14] ### DGCA's Regulatory Response and Temporary Exemptions Beyond the show-cause notice, the DGCA has taken further steps to address the crisis. A four-member inquiry committee, headed by Joint Director General Sanjay K Bramhane, was formed on December 5, 2025.^[2][19][13] This committee has 15 days to submit a comprehensive report assessing crew planning, operational readiness, and compliance with FDTL norms.^[5][19][15] The findings will guide future regulatory enforcement actions.^[19] In a controversial move, the DGCA also granted IndiGo a temporary, one-time exemption from some night operations-related changes in the new FDTL norms for its Airbus A320 pilots.^[5][18] This temporary rollback, effective until February 10, 2026, redefines "night" for the airline from midnight to 5 AM (instead of 6 AM) and allows pilots up to six night landings instead of two.^[18] The regulator also released 12 Flight Operations Inspectors from IndiGo on deputation for flying duties.^[18] These relaxations have drawn criticism from pilot associations and other airlines, who allege IndiGo used the crisis to pressure regulators.^[18] The DGCA also temporarily withdrew a clause related to weekly rest periods for all airlines, allowing substitution of leaves against the mandatory 48-hour weekly rest.^[18] ### IndiGo's Efforts to Stabilize IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers issued an apology to passengers, stating the airline was "doing everything" for refunds and working to stabilize operations.^[16][4][11] The airline is reportedly aiming for a return to normalcy between December 10 and 15, 2025.^[18][13][11] On Saturday, IndiGo reported operating over 700 flights and restoring more than 95 percent of its network, serving 135 of its 138 destinations.^[4][11] The airline stated its commitment to winning back customer trust.^[4] The crisis underscores significant challenges within India's rapidly expanding aviation sector, highlighting the need for robust planning and adherence to safety regulations amidst growth.^[14][8]

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