India’s largest airline is again under the regulatory microscope after aviation inspectors flagged gaps in operations, raising the prospect of action against a senior expatriate executive as IndiGo struggles to steady its flight network amid winter fog and internal disruptions.
The issues stretch beyond schedules, touching leadership oversight, rostering practices, and growing unease within the regulator itself.
Inspectors Flag Leadership Lapses Inside IndiGo
A special panel of eight flight operations inspectors, appointed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to monitor IndiGo until operations settle, has identified several weak spots inside the airline.
One senior expatriate official from top management, though not the chief executive, is reportedly under close review. Officials familiar with the findings said regulatory action is being examined, though no formal order has been issued yet.
The inspectors’ review points to decision-making gaps rather than a single technical failure.
The operations control centre, or OCC, has emerged as a central concern. Sources said the OCC’s systems and coordination failed to cope with operational stress, forcing the airline into short-term fixes that ripple across crew planning and flight reliability.
For an airline that runs thousands of flights a week, even small cracks can widen fast.
Short-Term Rosters Add Pressure on Pilots and Schedules
One of the most visible signs of strain is the way pilots are being rostered.
IndiGo is currently issuing only two-day flight rosters. This means pilots know their schedules just 48 hours in advance, a sharp departure from normal practice where rosters are planned well ahead.
The airline says this arrangement will stay in place until the OCC systems are restored fully.
Winter has made the task harder.
Low visibility conditions, especially dense fog, demand that pilots with specific training for such operations are assigned to early morning and late-night flights. Airports like Delhi, Amritsar, and Lucknow are already seeing reduced visibility, tightening the margin for error.
“It’s no longer just about having enough pilots,” said a person aware of the discussions. “It’s about placing the right pilots on the right flights at the right time, every single day.”
That sentence pretty much captures the headache.
DGCA Inspectors Feel Targeted After Colleagues’ Removal
While IndiGo remains in focus, a parallel issue is brewing inside the regulator.
Several flight operations inspectors are reportedly upset after four of their colleagues were removed from their roles. The removals followed questions over why problems at IndiGo were not contained earlier.
According to sources, inspectors feel they are being blamed for failures that stem from airline management decisions rather than regulatory oversight.
Some inspectors are now considering stepping down from these additional responsibilities, people close to the matter said.
This internal discontent complicates enforcement.
The DGCA relies on these inspectors to monitor airlines closely, especially during crises. A loss of morale, or worse, a shortage of inspectors willing to serve, could weaken oversight at a time when passenger disruption risks are already rising.
One official admitted quietly that tensions are running high on both sides.
Passenger Impact Grows as Winter Fog Sets In
The regulator’s immediate concern remains passenger hardship.
With fog rolling into north India, flight disruptions are becoming harder to avoid. Two IndiGo flights on the Ahmedabad–Hindon and Hindon–Varanasi routes have already been cancelled.
Officials said advance cancellations were preferable to last-minute chaos.
“At least passengers know early and can plan,” one source said.
Hindon Airport has been particularly affected. Even before the latest cancellations, winter schedules had already cut flights there by half. From handling about 25 arrivals and 25 departures during summer, Hindon is now down to roughly 12 arrivals and departures each.
The airport has built-in limits.
Commercial flights operate only from sunrise to sunset, and there are just two parking bays. Reduced visibility shortens the usable window even more. Against that backdrop, IndiGo cancelled two additional flights until February, according to airport officials.
It’s a squeeze from all sides.
Rivals Watch Closely as Capacity Gaps Open Up
IndiGo’s troubles have not gone unnoticed by competitors.
After Air India, Akasa Air has approached the government to ask how long IndiGo’s capacity cuts are expected to last. The answer matters for planning extra flights in late January, when Akasa’s 31st aircraft is expected to enter service.
Akasa currently operates 30 Boeing 737 aircraft, and officials say the fleet is already being used to near capacity.
That limits how much slack the airline can offer.
Air India has stepped forward with a larger proposal. The Tata Group-owned carrier has offered to explore operating up to 275 additional flights this month to ease the pressure.
Still, officials caution that the gap can only be filled partially.
Here’s how capacity constraints are shaping up across carriers:
| Airline | Current Fleet Situation | Scope to Add Flights |
|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | Capacity cuts ongoing | Under review by DGCA |
| Air India | Large network, mixed fleet | Up to 275 extra flights |
| Akasa Air | 30 aircraft active, 31st soon | Limited, from late Jan |
| AI Express | Resources mostly deployed | Minimal headroom |
An aviation ministry official put it plainly: the system doesn’t have spare planes sitting idle.
“The best outcome is IndiGo stabilising quickly,” the official said.
Pressure Builds on IndiGo to Restore Stability
Behind the scenes, discussions are intensifying.
The aviation ministry is expected to finalise the scale and duration of IndiGo’s capacity cuts early this week. That decision will shape how long passengers face reduced options and how rivals adjust schedules.
There is also pressure from the top.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently stressed that rules should ease citizens’ lives, not burden them, a remark that has echoed through ministries as passenger complaints rise.
For IndiGo, the path ahead is narrow.
Restoring the OCC, extending pilot rosters, and satisfying regulators will take time. Any action against a senior executive, especially an expatriate leader, could add another layer of uncertainty inside the airline’s ranks.
Yet officials across government and industry agree on one thing.
Temporary fixes can only go so far. India’s aviation system is stretched, winter fog is unforgiving, and patience among travellers is wearing thin.
