New Delhi, December 7 (IANS). The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday issued a show cause notice to the Accountable Manager of IndiGo. Earlier, the regulator had issued a similar notice to the airline’s CEO Peter Elbers.
The aviation regulator said the recent large-scale cancellation of flights by IndiGo has caused serious inconvenience and distress to passengers across the country.
According to DGCA, the main reason behind this major problem is the failure by the airline to make proper arrangements for the smooth implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules.
These rules, which govern the working hours and rest periods of flight crew and have come into effect recently, have created major operational challenges for IndiGo.
In the notice, the regulator said IndiGo’s “large-scale operational failures” point to significant lapses in planning, monitoring and resource management.
The notice further said that the airline appears to have violated Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, as well as several provisions of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) related to duty period, flight time limits and mandatory rest for crew members.
The DGCA also said that IndiGo did not provide necessary assistance and facilities to passengers during the cancellation, while rules mandate airlines to provide assistance in cases of flight delay, cancellation or denial of boarding.
The Accountable Manager has been asked to explain within 24 hours why enforcement action should not be taken for these violations.
DGCA has warned that if IndiGo fails to respond on time, it will take a decision based on available information.
Earlier, the regulator has issued a show cause notice to the CEO of IndiGo and other senior officials.
–IANS
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