English
English
English
DGCA has launched urgent inspections at 11 airports after massive IndiGo disruptions left passengers stranded nationwide. From queue chaos to delayed alerts and baggage backlogs, officials are probing what went wrong and what more may emerge from the terminals.
On-site inspections at 11 airports
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday launched an urgent nationwide review of airport operations following severe disruptions in IndiGo flights over the past several days. Large-scale delays and cancellations have left passengers stranded, prompting the aviation regulator to order on-site inspections at 11 major airports.
The airports identified for immediate inspection include Nagpur, Jaipur, Bhopal, Surat, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Shirdi, Cochin, Lucknow, Amritsar and Dehradun. DGCA officers have been directed to reach these airports within two to three days and submit a comprehensive report within 24 hours of completing their assessment.
Delhi high court questions centre over surge in IndiGo ticket prices; Click for details
According to the directive, the inspections aim to evaluate safety preparedness, operational readiness and the quality of passenger facilitation during the ongoing disruption. Officers will examine congestion levels, queue management at check-in counters, security lanes and boarding gates, and whether both IndiGo and the respective airports have deployed adequate operational manpower.
A key component of the inspection will be a close review of IndiGo’s handling of flight delays and cancellations. Officials have been instructed to assess whether passengers are being informed promptly through SMS, WhatsApp and email notifications, and whether airline help desks are manned round-the-clock to address grievances.
The regulator has also directed officers to evaluate assistance provided to senior citizens, pregnant women, children and passengers with reduced mobility. Availability of essential amenities such as drinking water, hygiene standards at toilets and terminals, housekeeping deployment, and seating arrangements in holding areas will also be reviewed.
DGCA inspectors will examine any backlog in baggage delivery and interact directly with passengers to gather feedback on the support provided. The presence of senior airline management at airports, effectiveness of IndiGo’s dedicated help desks, and the functioning of operational control rooms will be key areas of scrutiny.
Officers have been instructed to work closely with airport directors, airline station heads, CISF units and airport operators to ensure a complete assessment of the situation and to recommend corrective measures where necessary.
