A Parliament panel is preparing to summon airline chiefs and aviation regulators after IndiGo’s nationwide flight cancellations left thousands stranded. The committee seeks accountability, answers on airfare spikes, and urgent reforms to prevent future aviation disruptions across India.
A major nationwide aviation disruption, triggered by large-scale flight cancellations by IndiGo, has prompted a Parliamentary panel to consider summoning the top leadership of India’s private airlines and senior officials from the civil aviation regulator. For the past six days, thousands of passengers across the country have faced severe inconvenience as IndiGo cancelled hundreds of flights, pushing air travel into turmoil and raising questions about operational preparedness within the industry.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, chaired by JD-U MP Sanjay Jha, is expected to call senior executives from IndiGo and other airlines. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation will also be asked to appear before the committee. According to sources, the panel wants to examine in detail what led to the cancellations and what immediate and long-term corrective measures are being put in place.
A member of the committee said the panel is “deeply concerned” about the disruption caused to such a large number of travellers during a period of high demand. The member noted that the situation had affected not just ordinary passengers but also several Members of Parliament who were travelling to New Delhi for the ongoing Winter Session. Many MPs reportedly faced delays and last-minute cancellations, adding to the urgency of seeking accountability from both the airlines and the regulator.
The MP further revealed that many lawmakers had received numerous complaints from citizens about a sudden and steep rise in airfares. With IndiGo cancelling flights for nearly a week, demand on remaining flights surged sharply, allowing airlines to increase ticket prices significantly. For passengers already grappling with cancellations and rebookings, the unexpected fare spike added yet another layer of frustration.
The crisis deepened on Sunday when IndiGo cancelled more than 220 flights at Delhi and Mumbai airports alone—the highest number of cancellations since the disruptions began. The situation created long queues, chaotic scenes at terminals, and widespread distress among passengers, many of whom were left waiting for hours without clarity on alternate travel options.
In response to the mounting crisis, the DGCA issued notices to IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Porqueras. The regulator has demanded a detailed explanation for the large-scale cancellations, including information on crew availability, operational challenges, and compliance with mandatory scheduling guidelines. The DGCA is also reviewing whether sufficient measures were taken to ensure that passenger rights—such as timely refunds and rebooking support—were upheld.
IndiGo’s parent company, InterGlobe Aviation, issued a statement on Sunday acknowledging the disruptions and outlining steps being taken to stabilise operations. According to the company, its Board of Directors has constituted a Crisis Management Group to monitor developments in real time. The group has been holding regular meetings to assess the situation, coordinate with airport authorities, and ensure that affected passengers receive assistance.
The airline has said that refunds for cancelled flights are being processed without delay and that additional resources are being deployed to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. IndiGo stated that it is exploring ways to improve crew management, aircraft availability, and communication channels to avoid future disruptions of this scale.
Despite these assurances, pressure on IndiGo continues to grow. With the Parliamentary panel now preparing to summon airline chiefs and DGCA officials, industry experts say the upcoming meeting could lead to sweeping recommendations, including tighter regulatory oversight, enhanced operational accountability, and revised passenger compensation norms.
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As the aviation sector awaits the panel’s next steps, passengers hope for swift action to prevent a repeat of the chaos. For now, the IndiGo flight disruptions have brought to light longstanding structural gaps in India’s aviation ecosystem—gaps that lawmakers appear determined to address.
