Summary:
- IndiGo restored flights and launched a review amid an antitrust probe.
- The airline has not disclosed the cause of the disruption.
- Its board appointed an external aviation expert for a root cause analysis.
INDIGO RESTORED ITS network to near-normal levels and began a review to prevent recurrence. Meanwhile, India’s competition regulator is reportedly reviewing allegations of antitrust violations following the recent disruptions.
IndiGo’s board has appointed an external aviation expert to conduct a root cause analysis, according to The Economic Times.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline stabilised operations after disruptions from Dec. 3 to 5, and rebuilt its daily schedule to about 2,200 flights. The disruption, which affected the network, tested the airline’s scale, complexity and response systems, he said.
“On Dec. 9, I shared that our operations had stabilised. Since then, we have restored our network to 2,200 flights today,” Elbers said, adding that the speed of recovery reflected the strength of IndiGo’s operating principles and teamwork across functions.
The airline has not publicly detailed the cause of the disruption, but Elbers said it appeared to result from multiple factors rather than a single issue.
He urged employees to remain calm and avoid speculation.
IndiGo’s board has appointed an external aviation expert to conduct a root cause analysis, according to the Times. Elbers said this will be supplemented by employee feedback, with senior leadership visiting stations and operational centres to understand challenges.
“A combination of the root cause analysis and your inputs will help us build IndiGo even stronger and better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Elbers outlined three immediate priorities: resilience, root cause analysis and rebuilding. He noted that similar disruptions have occurred at other large airlines and lessons from those cases will inform improvements.
The airline employs around 65,000 people and has carried more than 850 million customers since starting operations 19 years ago. Its network spans domestic, regional, and international destinations, with complex crew, aircraft and airport dependencies.
Antitrust review
The Competition Commission of India is reviewing allegations of antitrust violations by IndiGo following the recent disruptions, Reuters reported. The airline, which controls more than 60 percent of India’s domestic market, cancelled about 4,500 flights earlier this month due to pilot roster issues, stranding tens of thousands of passengers. Fares surged during the cancellations, prompting the government to impose temporary caps.
The commission said it had "taken cognizance of information filed against IndiGo in the context of the recent flight disruptions witnessed in the aviation sector, across various routes" and would proceed with an initial assessment, without disclosing details of the allegations.
One complaint, seen by Reuters, accuses IndiGo of cancelling flights and offering replacement seats at much higher prices, alleging abuse of market position. The filing by lawyer Kartikeya Rawal said his ticket was cancelled and the replacement fare quoted was significantly higher.
The disruptions highlighted risks of a near-duopoly in India, where IndiGo and Air India together hold more than 90 percent of the market. The CCI can order a detailed probe that may lead to penalties if wrongdoing is found.
