Even as operations improve, regulatory scrutiny has intensified. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers appeared before the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s high-level probe committee on Friday. The four-member panel summoned him to explain the systemic failures that triggered thousands of cancellations and delays during the first week of December, leaving passengers stranded across major airports and prompting widespread complaints.
IndiGo has also confirmed that its Board has approved the appointment of an independent aviation consultancy to investigate the crisis. The airline has hired Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by aviation veteran Captain John Illson, to conduct a comprehensive review. The external audit will include a detailed root-cause analysis of the disruption and recommend long-term measures to strengthen operational resilience. IndiGo stated that its internal panel had concluded an impartial assessment was necessary to fully understand the breakdown.
The DGCA’s inquiry and the independent audit will run concurrently as the airline works to regain the trust of both customers and regulators following one of the largest operational collapses in Indian aviation history.
On Wednesday, the central government ordered IndiGo to cut its flight operations by 10 per cent as a punitive measure. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Aviation Secretary Sameer Sinha approved the decision, signalling that the government expects accountability for the chaos. Officials indicated that the reduction is intended not only as a disciplinary step but also to adjust IndiGo’s commanding market presence. With a current market share of about 65 per cent, the government aims to bring IndiGo’s share down to roughly 55–57 per cent. The slots freed by the cut will be redistributed to competing carriers such as Air India and Akasa, potentially reshaping the market in the months ahead.
