IndiGo has swiftly resumed most of its flight operations after a week-long disruption, aiming to stabilise its network by December 10. The airline has processed significant refunds and managed baggage delivery amid regulatory scrutiny and political criticism.
IndiGo has ramped up operations after nearly a week of nationwide flight disruptions, processing a whopping Rs 610 crore in refunds and returned around 3,000 pieces of baggage to affected passengers, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Sunday. The airline, which operates about 2,300 flights a day and commands nearly 65 per cent of India’s domestic aviation market, ran over 1,500 flights on Saturday and around 1,650 on Sunday, restoring connectivity to 135 of its 138 destinations.
CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline’s On Time Performance has reached 75 per cent and highlighted that earlier cancellations helped prevent passengers from arriving at airports unnecessarily. IndiGo projects December 10 as the date for full network stabilisation.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDIGO FIASCO
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INDIGO FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS: STEP-BY-STEP RECOVERY UNDERWAY
After nearly a week of nationwide flight cancellations and delays, IndiGo is gradually restoring operations. The airline, which normally operates around 2,300 flights daily, ran about 1,500 flights on Saturday and operated 1,650 flights on Sunday, reconnecting 135 of its 138 destinations. CEO Pieter Elbers, in an internal video message from IndiGo’s operations control centre in Gurugram, said, “Step by step, we are getting back.”
- PASSENGER REFUNDS
IndiGo has processed refunds totalling Rs 610 crore for cancelled or severely delayed flights, the Civil Aviation Ministry said. The government emphasised that no additional fees will be charged for rescheduling travel affected by cancellations. Dedicated support cells have been set up to ensure that refund and rebooking issues are resolved promptly and without inconvenience.
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BAGGAGE RECONCILIATION MEASURES
IndiGo has been instructed to trace and deliver all baggage separated from passengers due to cancellations or delays within 48 hours. The ministry noted that continuous communication with passengers is being maintained throughout the process to ensure smooth delivery. With these efforts, the airline has already successfully delivered 3,000 pieces of baggage across the country.
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OPERATIONAL RECOVERY AND ON-TIME PERFORMANCE
IndiGo’s On-Time Performance (OTP) is expected to reach 75% on Sunday, up from 30% a few days ago. Flight operations have increased from 706 on December 5 to 1,565 on December 6, with further improvements planned to reach 1,650 flights. Early-stage cancellations helped prevent passengers from arriving at airports unnecessarily, ensuring smoother operations. As of December 7, 137 of 138 destinations are operational.
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AVIATION MINISTRY MONITORING AND COORDINATION
Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held another meeting with all airlines’ operators today. He also held meetings with stakeholders and another virtual meeting with all airline operators is reportedly on the cards, sources said. IndiGo has been directed to ensure timely communication with passengers about cancellations and complete all refunds for cancelled or heavily delayed flights by 8 pm on Sunday.
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INDIGO GETS ONE-TIME 24-HOUR EXTENSION TO RESPOND TO DGCA
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO/Accountable Manager Isidre Porqueras Orea sought an extension from the DGCA to reply to the show-cause notice issued yesterday. They were granted a single 24-hour extension to file their response. The new deadline is now 6 pm on December 8. The regulator described this as a strict one-time relief, given the seriousness of the lapses under examination.
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AIRFARE CAPS AND PASSENGER PROTECTION
In response to temporary fare surges after widespread cancellations, the Ministry imposed a cap on airfares to ensure affordability. IndiGo has also implemented a full waiver on cancellations and reschedule requests for bookings till December 15. Authorities continue to monitor operations to protect passengers’ rights and maintain fairness in ticketing.
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INDIGO CEO ADDRESSES STAFF
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers delivered a video message to employees from the airline’s Operations Control Centre in Gurugram, acknowledging the intense pressure the team has faced during the crisis. The CEO said IndiGo’s entire network coverage has now been restored, with routes reconnecting gradually and stability returning across most stations. He gave a “special shout-out” to AOCS and frontline airport staff.
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IMPACT ON TOURISM
The flight disruptions have hit Rajasthan’s peak tourism season, affecting hotels, transport providers, and tour operators. Bookings for Christmas and New Year holidays are being cancelled, particularly in Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur. Tourism contributes nearly 12% to Rajasthan’s GSDP, and industry experts warn that continued flight disruptions could slow growth. Officials remain optimistic that once flight operations normalise, the tourism sector will recover swiftly.
