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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and IndiGo airline over the recent operational crisis that led to over 2,000 flight cancellations and caused chaos at several major airports across the country. The high court asked the government as to why the situation that led to the cancellation of several flights by IndiGo had precipitated.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the Centre what action had been taken to compensate the passengers. “How are you ensuring that the airline staff act responsibly?” the bench asked. The court noted that this issue is not just about inconvenience and harassment caused to the stranded passengers, but also involves systemic failure and financial loss caused to the country's economy.
The court was hearing a PIL seeking directions to the Centre to provide support and refunds to passengers affected by the cancellation of hundreds of flights by IndiGo.
What arrangements made for stranded passengers
The bench also asked the Central government what arrangements had been made to handle the stranded passengers at the airport and prevent further inconvenience. “Why did this situation arise so suddenly? What steps have been taken to assist the passengers?” the bench that heard the matter for over an hour said.
"We appreciate the steps taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA but what bothers us is how such a situation was allowed to precipitate, leading to stranding of lakhs of passengers at airports across the country.
"This has not only caused trouble to the passengers but also affected the economy of the country as in the present day, fast movement of passengers is an important aspect to keep the economy moving," the bench said.
HC slams Govt over air fares
The high court also questioned the sharp spike in air fares amid the IndiGo crisis, stating that tickets that previously cost Rs 5,000 have now been increased to Rs 30,000–35,000. The bench asked, “If there was a crisis, how could other airlines be allowed to take advantage? How can the fares reach Rs 35,000–39,000? How can other airlines start charging such exorbitant amounts? How is this possible?”
What Centre told HC
In response, ASG Chetan Sharma, referring to the relevant documents, stated that the legal system is fully in place. Sharma informed the high court that the Centre had been aiming to implement the pilot duty norms for a long time, but the airline had sought an extension for the July and November phases before a single judge.
The high court directed IndiGo, the government, and the DGCA to ensure that stranded passengers at the airport receive appropriate compensation.'
The high court also inquired about the steps taken to ensure that the airline staff treated passengers courteously. It further observed that IndiGo failed to appoint a sufficient number of pilots in a timely manner to comply with the rules related to pilots' duty timings.
HC seeks probe report
The high court directed that the report of the inquiry initiated by a committee in this matter be submitted in a sealed envelope before the next hearing. The court also directed the authorities to ensure that the situation normalises soon and all airlines employ an adequate number of pilots. The court will hold the next hearing on January 22, 2026. The court has asked the parties to file their responses.
