Indigo: Following widespread disruptions and passenger inconvenience on its flights, the government has taken a tough stance. The DGCA has formed two oversight teams, with 10 people keeping a close watch.

The government has taken a major step regarding the Indigo flight crisis. In view of the widespread disruptions and inconvenience caused to passengers, the DGCA has formed two oversight teams. One team has eight members, while the other has two. The oversight team will keep a close watch on Indigo’s operations, cancellations, refunds, and schedules. Two members of this team will be present at the Indigo corporate office (Gurugram) every day and will submit reports. Both teams will send their reports to the concerned senior officials by 6 PM every day.

Oversight Team (8 members)
1. Captain Vikram Sharma

2. Captain Kapil Manglik

3. Captain V.P. Singh

4. Captain Apurva Agarwal

5. Captain Swati Lumba

6. Captain Aman Suhag

7. Captain Nitya Jain

8. Captain N. J. Singh

These 8 people will monitor the following:
Total number of aircraft Indigo has
Average distance flown by aircraft
Total number of pilots available
Complete network details
Number of hours the crew is working
Number of deadheading duties per month/day
Number of crew members in training
Status of split duties
Number of unplanned leaves (sick, casual, emergency) taken daily
Number of flights and crew available daily
Number of sectors affected due to crew shortage
Number of standby crew available per day and per base (cockpit and cabin)

Second Oversight Team
Two more officers have also been deployed at the Indigo office (Gurugram).

Aishveer Singh
Mani Bhushan

What these officers will be monitoring:
Cancellation status of domestic and international flights
Status of refunds to passengers, on-time performance by airlines and online travel agencies/travel agents
Compensation provided to passengers (as per regulations)
Status of return of passengers’ baggage

Order to reduce flights by 10 percent
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday ordered IndiGo to reduce its flights by 10 percent. This will affect 220 flights daily. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that this step is to stabilize the airline’s operations.

The IndiGo flight crisis began on December 2nd. Due to this crisis, more than five thousand flights have been cancelled so far. This has caused considerable inconvenience to thousands of passengers. Things have still not returned to normal. On Wednesday alone, more than 200 flights were cancelled at airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This caused immense difficulties for passengers.

19-Year Record Tarnished, We Disappointed Everyone… IndiGo Chairman Vikram Mehta’s Apology
IndiGo Airlines has been grappling with a major crisis, causing immense difficulties for passengers. The company has faced public anger and a reprimand from the Delhi High Court. Amidst this, some relief has come. Acknowledging the mistakes and offering an apology, IndiGo Board Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta said, “We have disappointed you, and we deeply regret it.”

Vikram Mehta said that there was pressure to issue a statement for several days, but the first priority was to improve operations and assist passengers. Now, IndiGo flights have returned to normal. More than 1,900 flights are operating daily. All 138 destinations are connected. On-time performance has also returned to normal. The company acknowledged that the criticism is justified and that they made mistakes.

All These Allegations are False, We Followed the New Rules
He said that the board has decided to include an external expert to determine why this crisis occurred and to prevent it from happening again. The chairman said that the allegations that IndiGo deliberately created the crisis, tried to influence government regulations, compromised safety, and that the board was not involved, are all false. We have complied with all the new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) rules.

Hundreds of Crores of Rupees in Refunds Issued
Vikram Mehta said that the crisis occurred because technical problems, weather, roster changes, and excessive pressure on the system all coincided. From the very first day, the board held emergency meetings and formed a crisis management team. The situation has now improved. Operations are now normal. Hundreds of crores of rupees in refunds are being issued. Passengers are being provided with hotel and travel assistance.

Thank You for Your Love for IndiGo for 19 Years
He said that the remaining baggage is also being delivered. Thanks to the government and regulators. This incident has tarnished IndiGo’s 19-year record. We have to regain your trust. The company has offered an unconditional apology and guaranteed safety and reliable service. They also said that they will learn from this crisis and emerge stronger. Thank you for the love and trust you have given IndiGo for the past 19 years.