Indian DGCA Forms Oversight Committee for IndiGo Amid Flight Crisis

The Indian aviation regulator, DGCA, has established an eight-member oversight committee to closely monitor IndiGo's daily operations. This action follows the airline's recent reduction in its winter flight schedule and a crisis that led to thousands of flight cancellations, stranding numerous passengers. The committee's mandate includes scrutinizing IndiGo's pilot strength, fleet utilization, crew management, and flight cancellations and delays, with daily reports to be submitted to the aviation ministry.

In a related development, the Indian DGCA summoned IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to appear with a comprehensive report detailing the causes of the operational disruptions. The crisis has largely been attributed to IndiGo's failure to align its operations with the government's new Flight Duty Time Limitations. The oversight team will supervise various operational metrics, including network details, crew availability, training, and unplanned leaves. IndiGo has since submitted revised flight schedules after the DGCA trimmed its winter timetable by 10 percent.

The Delhi High Court also intervened, questioning the Indian government on why the situation was allowed to escalate and directing both the government and IndiGo to ensure adequate compensation for affected passengers. IndiGo, in a statement, acknowledged its employees' efforts to address the issues and restore operational normalcy. Meanwhile, other carriers like Air India and SpiceJet announced plans to add flights to mitigate the impact of the disruptions.