IndiGo CEO summoned by DGCA on Dec 11; regulator to seek full report on flight disruptions — What to expect

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has summoned IndiGo CEO to appear before the regulator on 11 December at 3 pm, seeking a detailed explanation for the disruptions that have rattled India’s busiest airline over the past week. Sources said the airline has sought a day’s extension, but the DGCA has insisted the leadership must now present a full status report, given the scale of delays, cancellations and passenger complaints.

The regulator’s directive comes after days of chaotic scenes at multiple airports, with passengers reporting sudden cancellations, long delays, missing baggage and inadequate communication from the airline. As travel picks up ahead of the holiday season, DGCA wants clarity on whether IndiGo has restored full operational capacity — and how the airline plans to prevent a repeat.

Flight restoration and stranded passengers

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DGCA wants a clear picture of how many flights remain disrupted, how many passengers are still awaiting re-accommodation, and what priority mechanisms are in place for elderly travellers, medical cases and unaccompanied minors. Officials said the airline will be asked to explain its internal monitoring system and how quickly it expects its network to stabilise.

Pilot and cabin-crew availability

Much of the disruption has been linked to crew shortages and roster gaps. The DGCA has asked IndiGo to provide the latest numbers for active pilots and cabin crew, its recruitment pipeline for the coming months, and the measures being implemented to avoid Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) violations that can trigger mass cancellations.

Refunds, rebooking and communication lapses

Another area under scrutiny is how quickly IndiGo has processed refunds for cancelled flights — both for direct bookings and those made through online travel agencies. DGCA sources say the airline must show evidence of real-time updates being sent to passengers.

Re-routing policy after cancellations

The regulator will also question IndiGo on whether it is offering no-additional-cost re-routing options in line with DGCA rules, including on other carriers when required. The airline must provide data on how many passengers were shifted to alternative IndiGo flights and how many were offered seats on other airlines.

Delhi High Court slams Centre as IndiGo crisis deepens

The IndiGo crisis intensified today, December 10, with the Delhi High Court sharply criticising the central government and questioning how the situation was allowed to escalate in the first place. Travel disruptions continued as around 400 flights were cancelled for a second consecutive day. IndiGo’s CEO sought an additional day from the DGCA, but the regulator directed the airline to appear tomorrow at 3 pm with detailed explanations on six key points. Meanwhile, the carrier is expected to submit its revised schedule - reflecting a mandatory 10% reduction in operations by 5 pm today.