NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The government is likely to seek the removal of IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers, sources have indicated, after the airline’s chaotic handling of the new rules for pilots’ rest hours led to mass cancellations and stranded thousands of passengers across the country.
An unprecedented crackdown on the airline is in the works, they hinted, as the country’s aviation ministry summoned IndiGo’s officials this evening. A heavy financial penalty is also being weighed on the budget carrier that commands nearly two-thirds of the domestic market share, sources added.
With the carrier’s mass cancellations triggering nationwide chaos, officials are also considering reducing the number of flights that IndiGo is allowed to operate, sources said, signalling the toughest action yet against India’s largest airline.
IndiGo has been struggling to operate on domestic routes after misjudging the number of pilots it needed under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules brought in by the aviation regulator to ensure longer rest periods for the pilots. The cancellation and delay of all domestic flights of IndiGo entered the fifth day on Saturday. The issue has affected tens of thousands of passengers who are worried about extended delays and soaring travel costs.
On Friday, the airline apologised for the massive crisis, assuring that all cancelled flights will be refunded. The disruptions were primarily caused by a shortage of pilots that was not anticipated due to planning deficiencies, and the authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.
Operating 2,300 flights daily with a fleet of over 400 aircraft, IndiGo has seen its punctuality plummet with the operational disruptions that are expected to continue for many more days. On Saturday, the Civil Aviation Ministry took note of concerns regarding unusually high airfares being charged by certain airlines during the ongoing disruption. All airlines were instructed to strictly adhere to the fare caps that have now been prescribed. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilises, the ministry added.
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said that it has taken “serious note” of concerns regarding “unusually high airfares” being charged by certain airlines amid IndiGo crisis.”In order to protect passengers from any form of opportunistic pricing, the Ministry has invoked its regulatory powers to ensure fair and reasonable fares across all affected routes. An official directive has been issued to all airlines mandating strict adherence to the fare caps that have now been prescribed. These caps will remain in force until the situation fully stabilises,” it said in a statement.
IndiGo has attributed the chaos to a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges,” including minor tech glitches, winter schedule changes, congestion, and weather.But aviation insiders and regulators agree: the real blow came from the implementation of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) – new crew rest and duty-hour rules designed to prevent pilot fatigue.
“The objective of this directive is to maintain pricing discipline in the market, prevent any exploitation of passengers in distress, and ensure that citizens who urgently need to travel – including senior citizens, students, and patients – are not subjected to financial hardship during this period,” it said. The Ministry will continue to closely monitor fare levels through real-time data and active coordination with airlines and online travel platforms.
“Any deviation from the prescribed norms will attract immediate corrective action in the larger public interest,” it said. Our Mumbai office has reported that In a dramatic outrage over the IndiGo crisis, an angry foreigner was seen climbing atop an airline counter at Mumbai Airport yesterday, demanding an answer for her flight cancellation that has left her, as well as thousands of other passengers across the country, stranded over the past few days.
The unnamed woman was seen losing her cool at the IndiGo’s ground staff before she grabbed the counter’s window and sprang onto the counter barefoot.With all her belongings packed in her luggage, she has no extra clothes to wear, she alleged, as she tried to gather support from other affected passengers. The woman also demanded food, angered over being stranded without the basic amenities. The ground staff at the counter was seen trying to pacify the angry woman and urging her to get down from the counter.

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