The Delhi High Court has directed interglobe aviation to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing refunds and compensation measures for passengers affected by widespread flight disruptions in early December. A bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia set a two-week deadline for the submission and scheduled the next hearing for February 25.

Court Proceedings and Government Response

The court received in a sealed cover the inquiry report submitted by the Union government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) into the operational lapses that brought India's aviation network to a standstill. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the union government, informed the court about the penalties imposed following the probe.

IndiGo's Compensation Measures

IndiGo's counsel informed the court that the airline is actively processing refunds for cancelled flights and offering compensation to affected passengers. The compensation structure prioritizes those most severely impacted by the disruptions.

Root Cause and Regulatory Action

The mass flight cancellations in early December stemmed from IndiGo's failure to adequately adapt to revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms. On January 17, the DGCA imposed a record penalty of ₹22.20 crore on the airline for overstretching flight crew and failing to comply with revised pilot duty and rest rules.

A four-member inquiry committee identified several operational deficiencies:

• Prioritization of maximum aircraft and pilot utilization
• Minimal buffer in rosters
• Heavy reliance on extended duties and tight turnarounds
• Deficiencies in software systems and management structure
• Shortage of at least 65 captains when final FDTL rules took effect

Regulatory Interventions

The DGCA implemented multiple measures to address the crisis:

• 10% cut in IndiGo's schedule
• Temporary relaxation of certain FDTL norms
• Fare caps and mandatory daily fare submissions
• Round-the-clock control room establishment
• Deployment of flight operations inspectors between December 6-30
• Passenger facilitation teams at key airports

Current Status and Future Compliance

IndiGo has informed the regulator that it expects to achieve adequate crew strength for full compliance with revised duty and rest norms by February 10. The airline currently operates with approximately 2,400.00 captains and 2,240.00 first officers and is actively onboarding additional pilots to eliminate dependency on temporary FDTL exemptions granted during the disruptions.

The court case originated from a public interest litigation filed by advocate Akhil Rana, seeking directions for passenger support, refunds, and compensation amid the widespread cancellations that affected thousands of travelers.

The Indian government has announced its intention to approach a Delhi court with a request to direct interglobe aviation to dismiss one of its vice-presidents following significant flight disruptions that caused chaos for passengers.

Government Takes Regulatory Action

The decision represents a significant escalation in regulatory oversight of India's largest domestic airline. The government's move to seek judicial intervention indicates the severity of the operational issues that led to widespread passenger inconvenience.

Court Intervention Sought

By approaching the Delhi court, the government is pursuing legal channels to address what it perceives as inadequate management response to flight disruption incidents. This judicial route suggests that previous regulatory measures may not have achieved the desired improvements in airline operations.

Impact on Aviation Sector

The government's action against a senior executive at IndiGo highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by Indian airlines regarding operational reliability and passenger service standards. This development may set a precedent for how aviation authorities handle similar incidents involving flight disruptions and passenger inconvenience in the future.