CCI Probe into IndiGo Disruptions: Market Dominance Under Fire

Sky-High Dominance: Competition Commission Probes IndiGo Over December Flight Chaos

• The “Abuse of Dominance” Angle: Why the CCI is Stepping In

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• The Root of the Crisis: FDTL Norms and Pilot Shortages

• Passenger Pain: Ticket Surges and the “Blemish” on On-Time Performance

• Stabilization Mode: CEO Pieter Elbers Says the “Worst is Over”

Also Read | UP Weather: Dense fog alert for next two days, cold wave to increase chill

IndiGo is under the lens of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) right now. The thing is, it’s not just about the cancellations—it’s about whether their 65.6% market share allowed them to act in ways that hurt flyers.

Actually, the fair trade regulator is looking at complaints of “abuse of dominant position.” Specifically, one filing alleges the airline cancelled flights only to offer the same seats later at much higher prices.

As a result, the CCI has decided to move forward with a formal assessment. Consequently, IndiGo is now fighting a two-front war with both the CCI and the DGCA breathing down its neck (let’s be real, a near-monopoly makes regulators nervous).

And here’s the kicker. The whole mess started back on December 2. In fact, it’s been one of the biggest aviation crises India has ever seen.

Also Read | UP Weather: Dense fog alert for next two days, cold wave to increase chill

Basically, the airline couldn’t handle the new pilot duty-time rules (FDTL) that kicked in on November 1. Instead of having enough crew ready, they hit a wall. And then Y followed. Over 4,500 flights were axed in just the first week of December, leaving thousands stranded at airports like Delhi and Bengaluru.

• Market Control: IndiGo and Air India now control over 90% of the sky. Actually, that’s basically a duopoly.

• Price Caps: The government had to step in and cap airfares because tickets were getting ridiculously expensive during the peak of the crisis.

• CEO’s Letter: Pieter Elbers told staff the airline has “stabilized” since December 9. Specifically, they’re back to flying over 2,200 flights a day.

• Fog Factor: On top of the internal crisis, dense winter fog in Chandigarh and Ranchi is still causing a headache (those too).

Also Read | UP Weather: Dense fog alert for next two days, cold wave to increase chill

Moreover, the DGCA even stationed its own people at IndiGo’s headquarters last week. Specifically, they wanted to oversee daily crew management in real-time.

Actually, the airline has issued around ₹610 crore in refunds so far. As a result, their stock price took a nearly 5% hit earlier this month. Consequently, even though Elbers says the worst is behind them, the “root-cause review” is likely to uncover some ugly planning gaps.

The thing is, India’s aviation model is showing some serious cracks. In fact, when one airline handles nearly two out of every three domestic passengers, the whole country feels the hit when they stumble.

Basically, the CCI probe will decide if IndiGo’s size is a benefit or a liability for the public. Instead of a tidy wrap-up, it’s worth noting that weather-related delays are still very much in play. And then Y followed. The legal fallout from this December “fiasco” will likely drag well into 2026.

Also Read | UP Weather: Dense fog alert for next two days, cold wave to increase chill

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