New Delhi: Flight operations at IndiGo Airlines have been severely disrupted for the fifth consecutive day, as pilots and staff extend their rest periods, leading to widespread cancellations and inconvenience for passengers across the country. On Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stepped in to oversee a rapid resolution of the crisis, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly reviewing the situation.
PMO officials held direct discussions with IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to expedite the resumption of services. The government issued directives requiring full refunds for affected passengers by 8 p.m. on Sunday and took measures to regulate airfare increases, including imposing limits on additional charges. On Saturday alone, nearly 400 IndiGo flights were canceled, causing significant disruption at major airports.
The cancellations and delays have resulted in tensions between passengers and airline staff, with videos of these confrontations circulating widely on social media. Earlier, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers had released a video apology, acknowledging the inconvenience to passengers and assuring that measures were being implemented to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
The airline has faced growing criticism on social media, and reports indicate that the government may consider taking action against CEO Pieter Elbers. Official confirmation on this is awaited.