Do you think IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and COO and Accountable Manager Porqueras will be able to provide satisfactory explanations for the flight disruptions to the DGCA?

January 29, 2026

The mass flight cancelation in mid-December 2015 was well planned by major aviation player Indigo of India. This mass flight cancellation of flights was timed during the peak marriage and holiday time by cancelling about 1000 or more flights to cause maximum disruptions. It also coincided with visit of Russian President Putin’s visit to New Delhi. Clearly, all international media started bad mouthing about India’s civil aviation mess.

The root cause of the problem was shortage of pilots in that airline company. The airline failed to follow the guidelines of fine balance between planes, flights and pilot strength. The pilot shortage was allowed to continue with excess pilot duties until pilots went on strike. The Indigo brand image, share value and reputation plunged. The management begged in front of Indian government to provide them adequate time to recruit additional pilots. The whole incident indicate lack of inventory planning, regulatory guideline non-compliance and casual attitude that being a near monopoly company in domestic civil aviation industry, Indian government will never act harshly.

But Indigo Aviation forgot that PM Modi prepares excellent tea and to some he serves it cold, like ice. It is matter of time that Indigo will be served cold tea despite having 70% market share in India. This process has begun. PM Modi is certainly working on the solution and will break this monopoly.