New Delhi: After six days of unprecedented chaos that grounded thousands of passengers, IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline, is finally soaring back to normalcy, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced on Sunday.
The airline has processed ₹610 crore in refunds and reunited 3,000 pieces of lost baggage with their owners, marking significant progress in resolving a crisis that sparked nationwide outrage.
The turmoil, which began on December 3, saw over 1,500 flights cancelled due to IndiGo’s mismanagement of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, leaving airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru in disarray. Stranded travellers faced skyrocketing fares and long waits, with some sleeping at terminals.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation intervened swiftly, capping airfares, waiving rescheduling fees, and ordering refunds by Sunday evening. IndiGo was also directed to deliver all separated baggage within 48 hours.
Naidu, who held marathon meetings with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and stakeholders, said operations surged from 706 flights on Friday to 1,565 on Saturday, with 1,650 expected by Sunday’s end.
A DGCA probe is underway to fix accountability, with Naidu warning, “Heads will roll.” The airline’s On-Time Performance hit 75%, and 95% of its network is restored. Special support cells are assisting passengers, ensuring no extra charges for rebooking.
The crisis, which drew political flak from Congress over alleged aviation monopolies, has highlighted gaps in IndiGo’s planning. As terminals return to normal, Naidu assured continuous monitoring until full stability is achieved, vowing stricter oversight to prevent future disruptions.