IndiGo Turmoil Deepens as PMO Intervenes; Airline Requests 10 Days to Restore Stability

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is currently battling one of the most serious operational breakdowns in its history, with widespread flight cancellations and delays disrupting air travel across the country. The situation has escalated to such an extent that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has stepped in to closely monitor developments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been fully briefed on the crisis, and senior government officials confirm that the PMO is now in direct and continuous communication with IndiGo’s top management, including CEO Pieter Elbers.

The government has conveyed a firm and urgent message to the airline: normal flight services must be restored at the earliest, keeping passenger safety and convenience at the forefront.

How the Disruption Unfolded

For the last three to four days, India’s aviation sector has been grappling with large-scale disruptions. While multiple airlines have faced operational challenges, IndiGo has borne the brunt of the impact due to its dominant presence in the domestic market, where it commands nearly 60% of the total share.

According to industry sources, a newly implemented set of aviation rules has severely affected IndiGo’s internal flight and crew planning. The sudden shift in regulatory requirements created a ripple effect across its scheduling system, leading to:

• Hundreds of flights being cancelled or delayed
• Severe overcrowding and confusion at major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Kolkata
• Long queues at airline counters
• Passengers struggling with rescheduling, refunds, and missed connections

For many travellers, the experience turned chaotic, with limited real-time updates and growing frustration inside terminal buildings.

PMO and Aviation Ministry Take Charge

The seriousness of the situation prompted direct intervention at the highest levels of government. Senior officials have confirmed that the PMO is actively overseeing the crisis and maintaining constant dialogue with IndiGo’s leadership.

At the same time, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has gone into full-alert mode. Its primary focus is passenger protection and the restoration of smooth airport operations nationwide. The ministry is closely reviewing several operational areas, including:

• Deployment of aircraft across routes
• Allocation and adjustment of airport slots
• Availability and scheduling of flight crew
• Passenger grievance handling and refund processing

In a clear signal of accountability, top IndiGo officials have been summoned for a high-level review meeting with the Aviation Ministry at 6 PM today. The government is expected to assess the airline’s performance so far and examine its recovery plan in detail.

IndiGo Seeks Temporary Relaxation in Pilot Duty Rules

In response to the mounting pressure, IndiGo has approached the government seeking temporary relief from certain FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitation) rules. These regulations determine how long pilots can operate under duty to ensure safety and prevent fatigue.

The airline argues that the latest norms are extremely rigid and have made crew rostering far more complex. According to IndiGo’s internal assessment:

• Pilot scheduling has become difficult to manage at short notice
• Crew shortages have increased
• Operational delays are snowballing across multiple routes

However, government sources have made it clear that any decision on relaxing flight duty rules will be taken with extreme caution. Authorities have emphasized that passenger safety cannot be compromised, even in a crisis.

Possibility of Penalties Looms

The government is also reportedly considering strict action if investigations reveal regulatory violations or mismanagement. Officials suggest that penalties may be imposed on IndiGo if it is found that:

• Aviation norms were breached
• Operational planning failures were avoidable
• Passengers suffered unnecessary financial or travel losses

Adding to the pressure, the Aviation Ministry has already ordered IndiGo to clear all pending passenger refunds by 7 December, warning that further delay will not be tolerated.

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CEO Requests 10 Days for Full Recovery

Amid the growing scrutiny, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has reportedly requested a 10-day window to fully stabilize the airline’s operations and normalize flight schedules across the network.

Industry experts believe the timeline reflects the sheer scale of disruption. With IndiGo operating thousands of flights daily and serving millions of passengers each month, even a small breakdown in scheduling can take days to fully recover.

Chaos at Airports Nationwide

Over the last 72 hours, the chaos at India’s busiest airports has been hard to miss:

• More than 400 flights were cancelled in a single day
• Airport terminals witnessed heavy passenger congestion
• Travellers complained of poor communication, last-minute cancellations, and rising temporary airfares
• Delays at metro airports created a domino effect across the national aviation grid

In response to reports of sudden fare spikes on high-demand routes, the government stepped in to curb unfair pricing and protect stranded passengers from excessive ticket rates.

The Situation at a Glance

• Prime Minister Modi has been briefed; the PMO is directly monitoring the crisis
• IndiGo has cancelled hundreds of flights across India
• CEO Pieter Elbers has requested 10 days to stabilize operations
• The government has warned of possible penalties
• All pending passenger refunds must be cleared by 7 December
• IndiGo is seeking temporary relief from pilot duty rules
• Top airline officials are facing a critical review meeting with the Aviation Ministry

This crisis has placed India’s largest carrier under intense national scrutiny. With government pressure mounting, passengers demanding accountability, and operations stretched to the limit, the next ten days will be crucial in determining how quickly IndiGo regains stability — and public trust.