New Delhi (Delhi) [India], December 8 (HBTV): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted IndiGo’s Accountable Manager and Chief Executive Officer a one-time 24-hour extension to submit their response to the show-cause notice issued on December 6 over large-scale operational disruptions and observed non-compliances.
According to an official statement, the two IndiGo officials sought more time in a request dated December 7, citing operational constraints linked to the scale of the airline’s nationwide operations and several unavoidable factors that contributed to disruptions across multiple airports. After reviewing the request, the DGCA extended the deadline only until 1800 hours on December 8 and made it clear that no further extensions would be permitted.
The regulator cautioned that failure to submit a complete and comprehensive reply within the extended timeline would result in the matter being decided ex parte based on available records. It added that the DGCA continues to monitor the situation and remains focused on passenger safety, regulatory compliance and the restoration of normal operations.
IndiGo earlier confirmed that it had received the show-cause notice issued on December 6 after major disruptions affected its flight network across the country. The airline sought more time to respond. In a letter to the regulator, Isidre Porqueras Orea, IndiGo’s Accountable Manager and Chief Operating Officer, wrote, ‘We request your good offices to kindly grant us an extension of time at least till 1800 hours tomorrow (i.e. 08.12.2025), or such other extended period to reply, as deemed fit.’
The DGCA issued the notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers after widespread cancellations and delays caused frustration among passengers across India. The regulator said the airline had shown ‘significant lapses in planning, oversight and resource management’, resulting in severe service disruption.
In its notice, the aviation regulator said the ‘primary cause’ of the disruption was IndiGo’s failure to make ‘adequate arrangements’ to meet revised staffing, duty-time and rostering requirements under the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules. These issues, the DGCA noted, amounted to prima facie non-compliance with the Aircraft Rules, 1937 (Rule 42A), and relevant Civil Aviation Requirements involving crew duty hours, flight time limits and prescribed rest periods.
The regulator also pointed to gaps in passenger care, stating that IndiGo did not provide mandatory facilities or information to travellers affected by cancellations, delays or denied boarding, which violates passenger-rights rules. Directing the CEO to respond, the DGCA said, ‘You are hereby directed to show cause within 24 hours of receipt of this notice as to why appropriate enforcement action should not be initiated against you under the relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules and Civil Aviation Requirements for the above-mentioned violations.’ It added that if no reply is received, it may decide the matter ex parte.
To help affected passengers, IndiGo announced automatic refunds for all cancelled bookings and a full waiver on cancellation or rescheduling charges for travel between December 5 and 15. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also directed the airline to clear all pending refunds by 8 pm on Sunday, December 7.
Disruptions continued on Sunday, with at least 400 IndiGo flights cancelled. The airline said it expects to stabilise its network by December 10. CEO Pieter Elbers said IndiGo is recovering from the disruption and plans to operate about 1,650 flights as it adjusts to the impact of the new FDTL rules. Major airports, including Hyderabad, Kolkata and Delhi, reported the highest number of cancellations as thousands of passengers across the country continued to be affected. (ANI)