New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) IndiGo's CEO Pieter Elbers announced on Tuesday that the airline's operations have regained stability following a period of extensive flight disruptions that stranded numerous passengers at key airports across the nation. This turmoil was primarily caused by an acute pilot shortage resulting from new flight duty limitation regulations.

In a statement posted on X, Elbers declared, “IndiGo is back on its feet,” emphasizing that the airline is working diligently to restore operations on a “war footing.”

He noted that IndiGo is currently operating over 1,800 flights daily, successfully reinstating its complete network of 138 destinations. “As of December 9, our operations are fully stabilised,” the CEO affirmed.

Elbers further mentioned that the airline has initiated an internal review to understand the root causes of the disruptions, indicating a thorough examination of processes and resource allocation.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated IndiGo to reduce its daily flight schedule by 5%, requesting a revised schedule by 5 PM on December 10.

The DGCA stated, “IndiGo has not demonstrated the ability to operate its schedules efficiently,” noting that while 64,346 flights were approved for the airline in November, only 59,438 flights were executed, with 951 flights cancelled.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu informed the Lok Sabha that IndiGo's operations are stabilising while other airlines continue to function normally across the country.

During the session, the minister reported, “Airports across the country are reporting normal conditions, with no crowding or distress.”

He added that the DGCA has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo's senior management and launched a comprehensive enforcement investigation. “No airline, however large, will be permitted to cause such hardship to passengers through planning failures or non-compliance,” he assured the House.

Naidu also clarified that the revised rules for pilot and crew rostering are non-negotiable.

Additionally, “Refunds for flights cancelled between December 5 to 15, baggage tracing, and passenger support measures remain under the supervision of the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the minister stated.

He explained that as part of the crisis management efforts, “IndiGo was ordered to issue refunds promptly, and as reported by them, over ₹750 crore has already reached the passengers.” Naidu highlighted the airline's commitment to comply with flight duty regulations and confirmed its readiness for the winter schedule, reiterating that safety in civil aviation is completely non-negotiable.