Indian Parliament Panel finds IndiGo and DGCA replies on flight chaos 'evasive'.
Key Points
- 1Parliamentary panel deemed explanations from IndiGo COO and DGCA officials regarding widespread flight cancellations as "evasive and unconvincing."
- 2The committee postponed fixing responsibility for the chaos, choosing to await the official inquiry report from the Civil Aviation Ministry due on December 28.
- 3IndiGo's parent company, Interglobe Aviation, formed a Crisis Management Group to monitor the situation, manage customer challenges, and expedite passenger refunds.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture questioned senior aviation officials and IndiGo Chief Operating Officer Isidro Porqueras regarding the airline's mass flight cancellations that stranded thousands of travelers in December. The panel, led by JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha, reportedly found the responses provided by both IndiGo and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) "evasive and unconvincing." Members of Parliament expressed concerns that the ministry may have been unprepared for the operational fallout following the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, or questioned if the disruptions were a tactic by IndiGo to seek exemptions.
The committee ultimately deferred assigning responsibility for the widespread air traffic chaos, deciding instead to await the findings of an ongoing inquiry ordered by the Civil Aviation Ministry. This four-member committee is expected to submit its report on December 28. IndiGo, which canceled hundreds of flights across the country, has faced serious scrutiny, including notices served by the Indian DGCA to CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Porqueras seeking explanation for the operational failures.
In response to the crisis, the Board of Interglobe Aviation, IndiGo's parent company, has established a dedicated Crisis Management Group. The group is tasked with regularly monitoring the situation, addressing the challenges faced by customers, and ensuring timely refunds to affected passengers. The parliamentary panel emphasized the serious difficulties faced by travelers, including MPs attending the Winter Session, and noted complaints regarding subsequent spikes in air fares.
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