IndiGo disruptions: CCI to review mass flight cancellations, probe to examine competition angle
The Competition Commission
of India (CCI) announced on Thursday it will investigate IndiGo airlines’ recent mass flight cancellations under Competition rules, following widespread disruptions that affected thousands of passengers since December 2, PTI reported.The fair trade regulator stated it has taken notice of complaints filed against IndiGo regarding the recent aviation sector disruptions across various routes.“Based on the initial assessment, the Commission has decided to proceed further in the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002,” CCI said in a release.IndiGo, which commands over 65 percent of the domestic market share, has cancelled hundreds of flights, causing significant inconvenience to passengers.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is already investigating these flight disruptions and increasing its oversight of IndiGo’s operations.
There are also concerns about whether the airline’s dominant market position played a role in the situation.A senior CCI official, last week, told PTI that the commission was internally examining potential violations of competition norms by IndiGo.IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers has addressed the situation with employees, assuring them that operations have stabilized after the period of disruption.
He stated that the worst was over and the airline was now focusing on resilience, conducting a root-cause review, and working on rebuilding.
