IndiGo board orders independent review as airline ramps up to 2,050 flights
As per operational data, IndiGo operated more than 1,950 flights on Thursday, with four cancellations, all attributed to unfavourable weather.
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VELANKANNI RAJ B
IndiGo’s board has set up an external panel on the recent mass cancellation of flights for an independent review of the crisis even as the airline plans to operate 2,050 flights on Friday.
The development comes a day after India’s aviation safety regulator relieved four officers in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, following the mass flight cancellations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) relieved with immediate effect four flight operations inspectors to return to their respective parent organisations.
The action comes as part of an ongoing investigation into regulatory oversight lapses, sources said, adding that these FOIs were directly responsible for oversight on IndiGo.
“Consequent upon approval of the competent authority, the following Flight Operations Inspectors under various categories, on contract basis, in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are hereby relieved from DGCA with immediate effect to join their respective…,” the DGCA said in an order.
CEO summoned
Additionally, IndiGo Chief Executive Pieter Elbers was summoned again on Friday for a second consecutive day by the regulator to present detailed facts on the mass cancellations.
According to IndiGo, the board has approved the appointment of Chief Aviation Advisors LLC, led by veteran aviation expert Captain John Illson, to conduct an independent review and assessment of the operational disruption and its contributing factors.
Captain Illson, who brings more than four decades of experience across the Federal Aviation Administration, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the International Air Transport Association and major global carriers, will lead the exercise.
Besides, IndiGo said the objective of the appointment is to conduct an independent root cause analysis of the disruption, along with identifying opportunities for improvement.
The airline cited that the decision follows recommendations made by the Crisis Management Group constituted by the IndiGo board.
Operations Improving
IndiGo said it is set to operate more than 2,000 flights on Friday as part of its revised and scaled-down schedule.
Furthermore, the airline said that it has demonstrated continuous operational normalisation and stability for the last four days, with all 138 operational destinations now connected.
As per operational data, IndiGo operated more than 1,950 flights on Thursday, with four cancellations, all attributed to unfavourable weather.
Published on December 12, 2025
