Supreme Court Declines Quick Hearing on IndiGo Flight Cancellations

On Monday, the Supreme Court announced its decision not to urgently address the plea concerning the numerous IndiGo flight cancellations affecting travelers nationwide. The court acknowledged that the federal government has already intervened to alleviate the situation. Chief Justice Surya Kant, presiding over the panel alongside Justice Joymalya Bagchi, emphasized the seriousness of the matter due to hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded at airports. He noted that the government has implemented prompt measures, considering various travelers may have urgent health or personal reasons to fly.

A lawyer presented the issue before the bench, outlining how the recent surge in cancellations by IndiGo has severely inconvenienced passengers. He articulated concerns over inadequate communication regarding these cancellations, with nearly 2,500 flights being delayed. Passengers are facing challenges at about 95 airports across the country while they await crucial updates.

On that Monday specifically, around 300 flights from both Delhi and Bengaluru were cancelled, as the airline grapples with operational difficulties. Since December 2, IndiGo has faced mounting pressure from travelers and government bodies due to the ongoing disruptions. The airline attributes the cancellations to recent regulatory changes regarding pilots' duty hours and new aviation guidelines. The cascading delays and cancellations have left a significant number of passengers stranded across India, many enduring prolonged waits for potential alternatives.

In parallel, a concurrent petition addressing the flight cancellations has also been filed with the Delhi High Court. This particular case is set for a hearing on December 10. The persistent disruptions have raised alarm among travelers and triggered inquiries about the resilience of the aviation sector and airlines' readiness to adapt to sudden policy updates. The situation is being closely monitored by government and regulatory authorities.

Currently, the Supreme Court has made it clear that it will not engage in an expedited review, affirming that relevant authorities are already in action. The ongoing predicament continues to disrupt air travel across India, marking it as one of the most significant travel upheavals in recent history.