Travel Vouchers
The airline stated that refunds for cancelled flights have already been processed and the new vouchers serve as an additional gesture of support. These vouchers can be redeemed for any IndiGo travel within the next twelve months, which the airline believes will help passengers regain confidence in its services. The vouchers are separate from the financial compensation guidelines mandated by the government for flights cancelled within twenty four hours of departure, which range from five thousand to ten thousand rupees.
IndiGo Emphasises Commitment to Passenger Experience
In its public message, the airline conveyed regret over the disturbances and reaffirmed its commitment to offering a safe, smooth and reliable travel experience. IndiGo expressed gratitude to passengers for their patience and emphasised that it aims to restore normal operations as swiftly as possible. The communication attempts to rebuild trust after an episode that significantly tested traveller confidence.
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Cancellations Continue Despite Attempts to Stabilise Operations
Even as the crisis enters its tenth day, cancellations continue in large numbers. More than one hundred flights were cancelled on Thursday alone, with Bengaluru and Chennai among the most affected hubs. The previous day saw over two hundred twenty cancellations, indicating that the airline has yet to fully regain operational balance. While IndiGo maintains that conditions are stabilising, many passengers continue to experience rescheduling, delays and last minute disruptions.
Chairman Rejects Claims of Crisis Manipulation
Amid rising public scrutiny, IndiGo Chairman Vikram Singh Mehta addressed circulating allegations suggesting that the airline engineered the crisis or attempted to influence government rules. He dismissed these accusations as entirely false, stating that safety has never been compromised and that the board remains fully engaged in oversight. Mehta further clarified that the airline has complied with the pilot fatigue regulations introduced earlier in the year and has not attempted to bypass any safety measures.
Judicial Scrutiny Adds Pressure to the Situation
The Delhi High Court has taken serious note of the ongoing turbulence and criticised both the central government and the aviation regulator for failing to prevent the crisis. The court pointed out that repeated cancellations and delays not only resulted in harassment for passengers but also affected economic activity. It questioned why airlines were allowed to increase fares sharply when IndiGo flights were grounded, terming the price hikes opportunistic.
Concerns Over Delayed Implementation of Safety Rules
The bench of Justices Manmohan and Tushar Rao Gedela highlighted the impact of delays in enforcing the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation rules for pilots. According to the court, lack of timely oversight led to the cancellation of more than two thousand flights and left over forty thousand passengers stranded nationwide. The judges stressed that pilot fatigue directly influences flight safety and insisted that regulatory bodies should have acted sooner.
A Crisis That Continues to Unfold
With fare hikes by other airlines reaching up to forty thousand rupees in certain sectors, the court questioned how such increases could be justified when travellers were already facing severe inconvenience. As inquiries deepen and public concerns grow, the larger aviation landscape is under pressure to address not only immediate disruptions but also long standing regulatory gaps. IndiGo’s voucher announcement may provide some relief, yet the broader crisis remains far from resolved.
