IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers received a show cause notice from India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The notice holds Elbers directly accountable for widespread flight disruptions and hundreds of cancellations that have severely impacted passengers across the country over the past week. The DGCA demanded an explanation within 24 hours, warning of potential enforcement action if a satisfactory response is not provided.^[1][2][3] ### Regulator Cites Lapses and Non-Compliance The DGCA's notice highlighted "significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management" within IndiGo.^[1][2] It stated that these operational failures indicate "prima facie non-compliance" with aviation rules, specifically Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and Civil Aviation Requirements related to pilot rest and duty norms.^[1][4] The regulator emphasized that Elbers, as CEO, is responsible for ensuring effective management and timely arrangements for reliable operations and passenger facilities.^[1][2][5] The notice explicitly accused the airline of failing to make adequate provisions for the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) scheme for pilots, which took effect on November 1, 2025.^[3][4] This failure is considered a primary cause of the recent chaos.^[4] The DGCA also criticized IndiGo for not providing mandated information and facilities to affected passengers during the mass delays and cancellations.^[3][4][6] This includes proper communication about flight changes and necessary support for stranded travelers.^[3] The regulator warned that if Elbers fails to submit a reply within the stipulated 24-hour period, the matter could be decided "ex parte," meaning the DGCA would proceed with enforcement action without his response.^[2][5][7] ### Crisis Unfolds Across India The operational meltdown at IndiGo, India's largest airline, began around December 2, 2025, leading to a five-day disruption that upended travel plans for thousands.^[3][5] Reports indicated over 850 flights were cancelled on Saturday alone, following more than 1,000 cancellations on Friday.^[8][9][7] This massive disruption, affecting over half of IndiGo's scheduled flights on some days, led to scenes of chaos at major airports across India, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata.^[9][6] Passengers faced long queues, missed connections, and baggage issues, with many left stranded.^[8][6] The crisis also triggered an "unreasonable surge" in ticket prices, with fares on some routes reportedly spiking up to ten times normal rates.^[2][7] Round-trip tickets on major routes like Delhi-Mumbai reportedly reached as high as ₹93,000, compared to typical rates of ₹20,000-₹25,000. In re^[2]sponse, the Ministry of Civil Aviation intervened, imposing emergency fare caps on domestic flights. For r^[2][7]outes up to 500 km, fares were capped at ₹7,500; for 500-1,000 km, at ₹12,000; for 1,000-1,500 km, at ₹15,000; and for routes over 1,500 km, at ₹18,000, excluding airport fees and taxes. The ministry ^[2][7]also directed IndiGo to clear all pending refunds by Sunday and reunite separated baggage within 48 hours. The airline w^[8][6]as asked to establish dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation centers. ### Elbers' ^[8]Role and IndiGo's Expansion Pieter Elbers, a Dutch national with over 30 years of aviation experience, assumed the role of IndiGo CEO in September 2022. He joined the^{[9][10][11][12]} airline after serving as President and CEO of Dutch carrier KLM for eight years. Elbers has be^{[9][10][11][13]}en widely recognized for his strategy of "internationalisation" at IndiGo, focusing on expanding the airline's network far beyond India. Under his lea^[9][14][6]dership, IndiGo has evolved from a typical low-cost carrier, introducing business class products on top routes and entering the wide-body long-haul segment with flights to European cities. IndiGo is now^[9] counted among the world's top airlines by passenger volumes and holds a dominant position in India's domestic aviation market, commanding over 60 percent market share. Elbers has p^[9][6][7]reviously stated IndiGo's ambition to become a global aviation player and contribute to making India a global aviation hub. The airline r^[14][15]ecently placed its first-ever order for 30 wide-body Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with deliveries expected from 2027 onwards, signaling its long-term international expansion plans. ### Company ^[15]Response and Future Outlook Following the widespread disruptions, IndiGo's Board of Directors held a meeting on Sunday and established a Crisis Management Group (CMG). The CMG inclu^[11]des Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta, Board Directors Gregg Saretsky, Mike Whitaker, Amitabh Kant, and CEO Pieter Elbers. Elbers issued^[11] an apology for the cancellations on December 5, 2025, and in a video message on Friday, he acknowledged that earlier measures had "proven not to be enough." He announced ^[10][11]a "reboot of all our systems and schedules," anticipating a return to normalcy between December 10 and 15, 2025. The DGCA has^[10][11] also issued a similar show cause notice to IndiGo's accountable manager and Chief Operating Officer, Isidre Porqueras. A four-member^[3][9][11] committee has been formed by the regulator to investigate the issue thoroughly and recommend preventive measures to avoid such disruptions in the future. Sources sugge^[3][7]st that strict action could be taken against the airline and its top executives once operations stabilize and the inquiry panel submits its report. The situation^[9] underscores the challenges faced by airlines in managing complex operations while adhering to evolving regulatory requirements and ensuring passenger welfare in a rapidly growing aviation market.

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