IndiGo has issued ₹610 crore in refunds to passengers affected by recent flight cancellations and delays, meeting a deadline set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The airline also reported that it had delivered 3,000 bags to travelers across India as of Saturday, ahead of the ministry's 48-hour deadline for returning separated baggage.
The MoCA had directed IndiGo to complete all pending refunds for cancelled or severely delayed flights by 8:00 pm on Sunday to ensure financial protection for passengers. Furthermore, the ministry instructed the airline not to levy additional charges for rescheduling travel impacted by the disruptions. The government's intervention came after widespread flight disruptions that affected IndiGo's network, leading to numerous cancellations and significant inconvenience for passengers.
In addition to the refunds and baggage recovery efforts, IndiGo is working to stabilize its operations and restore its flight schedule. The airline expects to operate more than 1,650 flights and reconnect 137 of its 138 destinations. IndiGo has advanced its expected stabilization timeline and anticipates its network to stabilize by December 10.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued show-cause notices to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras, seeking explanations for the disruptions and alleged planning lapses. The DGCA has requested a detailed recovery plan along with fortnightly progress reports. The regulator has also granted a one-time relaxation of certain night-duty and Flight Duty Time Limitation norms to help the airline regain capacity more quickly.
The MoCA has implemented fare caps on affected routes following a surge in prices due to the widespread cancellations. All airlines have been instructed to strictly comply with the revised fare limits.
Airport Directors from major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Goa, reported that operations were normal on Sunday. Passenger movement was smooth, with no crowding at check-in, security, or boarding areas. On-ground support has been strengthened through better monitoring and faster deployment of staff by airport operators and the CISF. The MoCA's 24x7 Control Room continues to function as an integrated coordination hub, overseeing flight operations, airport conditions, and passenger support requirements.
IndiGo has started cancelling flights earlier in the planning cycle to improve communication with passengers. Refund processing and baggage recovery are fully underway for both direct and agency bookings. The airline reported a 75% on-time performance (OTP) on Sunday, compared to Saturday's lower figure. IndiGo will conduct a detailed root cause analysis into the widespread flight disruptions.
