Thousands stranded as IndiGo cancels flights; panel seeks answers from airlines and aviation regulator on crisis.
New Delhi
A major disruption in air travel across India has prompted the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture to consider summoning top officials of private airlines and senior representatives of the aviation regulator. The committee, headed by JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha, aims to understand the reasons behind widespread flight cancellations and the measures being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Over the past six days, thousands of passengers were left stranded as IndiGo cancelled a significant number of flights. Even several Members of Parliament attending the Winter Session in Delhi faced delays, and many reported receiving complaints from citizens regarding sudden spikes in airfares amid the ongoing crisis.
On Sunday alone, IndiGo cancelled more than 220 flights at Delhi and Mumbai airports, marking the sixth consecutive day of large-scale disruptions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already issued notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Porqueras, seeking explanations for the operational breakdown.
In response, IndiGo stated that the Board of InterGlobe Aviation, its parent company, has formed a Crisis Management Group to closely monitor the situation. The company emphasized that the group is meeting regularly and that the Board of Directors is taking all possible steps to support affected passengers.
A member of the Parliamentary panel expressed serious concern over the inconvenience faced by travelers and confirmed that senior executives from airlines, along with officials from the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, are likely to be called for hearings. The committee intends to probe the causes of cancellations and evaluate strategies to ensure such disruptions do not recur.
The ongoing airline crisis highlights the challenges faced by the aviation sector, including operational bottlenecks and fare volatility, and underscores the need for stronger regulatory oversight to protect passengers.
