Senior expat official in IndiGo management may face action

A senior member of IndiGo's management team, an expatriate, is under scrutiny and may face regulatory consequences, according to sources familiar with the situation. This development follows an assessment by a team of eight flight operations inspectors (FOIs) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), tasked with monitoring IndiGo's operations until they stabilize.

The inspectors have identified weaknesses within the airline's operational structure, particularly concerning the operations control center (OCC). Currently, pilots are reportedly receiving flight rosters only two days in advance. This short-term scheduling is expected to continue until the OCC system is fully functional. Sources indicate that low visibility conditions have complicated the situation, requiring careful assignment of pilots trained for such conditions to early morning and late-night flights at airports prone to fog, including Delhi, Amritsar, and Lucknow.

**FOI Concerns**

Beyond the challenges at IndiGo, aviation authorities are also grappling with discontent among FOIs. The recent removal of four FOIs, allegedly for failing to prevent IndiGo's operational issues, has sparked resentment. Some FOIs reportedly feel they are being unfairly blamed and are considering resigning. The DGCA is working to minimize disruptions for passengers amid the low visibility conditions. Two IndiGo flights, Ahmedabad-Hindon and Hindon-Varanasi, have already been canceled to provide passengers with advance notice.

**Hindon Airport Impact**

Even before these recent cancellations, the number of flights to and from Hindon Airport had already been reduced by half for the winter season. The airport, which previously handled 25 arrivals and 25 departures daily during the summer, now handles only 12 arrivals and 12 departures. Two additional IndiGo flights have been canceled until February. According to an airport official, these cancellations are due to operational restrictions at Hindon Airport, including limited operating hours (sunrise to sunset) and only two parking bays for commercial flights. Reduced visibility has further shortened the operational window.

**Akasa Air's Opportunity**

Following Air India, Akasa Air has also inquired with the government about the duration of IndiGo's capacity reductions. This inquiry is driven by Akasa's potential to operate additional flights in the latter half of January, coinciding with the deployment of its 31st aircraft. The aviation ministry is expected to finalize decisions regarding IndiGo's capacity cuts and their duration this week. Air India has proposed potentially operating 275 extra flights this month. Akasa Air is currently maximizing the use of its 30 Boeing 737 aircraft and anticipates its 31st aircraft will be operational next month. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the airline believes it can only partially compensate for IndiGo's route cuts and only in the second half of January, not February.

According to an official, IndiGo's flight reductions can only be partially and temporarily filled by other airlines. While Air India may add 275 flights this month, the resources of Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air are already heavily utilized. The official emphasized the importance of restoring IndiGo's operations to full capacity as quickly as possible.