New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Competition Commission of India (CCI) announced on Thursday that it has formally acknowledged complaints lodged against the budget airline IndiGo concerning recent flight disruptions impacting multiple routes across the country.

According to a statement from the regulator, following its preliminary evaluation, it has opted to advance in this matter in line with the stipulations of the Competition Act, 2002.

Details regarding the specific allegations or complaints have not been disclosed by the CCI.

The statement read, "The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has acknowledged information submitted against IndiGo regarding the recent flight disruptions experienced in the aviation sector across various routes."

"In light of the initial evaluation, the Commission has opted to continue further in this matter as per the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002," it further mentioned.

This action follows widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo earlier this month, which left tens of thousands of passengers stranded throughout the nation. The airline, which holds over 60% of India’s domestic aviation market share, canceled thousands of flights due to inadequate pilot roster planning and a lack of preparation for new safety regulations.

The disruptions were among the most significant the aviation sector has seen in recent times and resulted in a notable increase in airfares on several routes. The competition watchdog possesses the authority to direct its investigative unit to explore cases where it identifies sufficient grounds to investigate potential breaches of competition law.

Previously, the government subjected the low-cost airline to close scrutiny following days of disruptions that severely affected domestic air travel.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently dismissed four flight inspectors who were responsible for overseeing the safety and operational standards of IndiGo.

This action coincides with the airline's escalating issues, which have led to hundreds of flight cancellations this month due to insufficient planning and a failure to comply with stricter safety regulations.

Tens of thousands of travelers were stranded nationwide due to these cancellations.

Additionally, the airline has received a tax penalty notice amounting to Rs 58.75 crore for the financial year 2020-21 from the Additional Commissioner of CGST, Delhi South Commissionerate, as stated by the airline.

In an exchange filing, Interglobe Aviation Ltd, the parent company of IndiGo, confirmed that it received the tax penalty order on Thursday (December 11), which includes GST demand along with the penalty.