Today, On 8th December, IndiGo flight delays and cancellations have reached the Supreme Court, where a plea highlighted massive disruption for passengers nationwide. Calling it a serious matter, CJI Surya Kant noted that lakhs of people are stranded at airports and urgently need relief.
A plea was mentioned before the Supreme Court highlighting the ongoing delay and cancellation of IndiGo flights across the country.
The submission pointed out that many flights were operating with widespread vacancies and passengers were not receiving proper or timely communication.
This situation has created confusion and hardship for travellers, especially those who were depending on scheduled flights for urgent needs.
During the mentioning, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant immediately took note of the seriousness of the crisis.
He responded by saying,
“This is a serious matter. Lakhs of people are stranded at airports we are aware of that. The Government of India has taken cognizance and timely action. We also understand that many stranded passengers may have health issues and other urgent needs.”
Earlier, A letter has been submitted to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the widespread cancellations of domestic flights, which have caused significant disruption in air travel across the nation.
Advocate Aman Banka’s plea emphasizes what it refers to as a nationwide aviation collapse, disproportionately impacting countless passengers and raising serious concerns under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The representation specifically points to disruptions allegedly associated withIndigo Airlines, which holds nearly 60 percent of India’s aviation market.
The plea highlights that the abrupt cancellations, operational failures, and lack of clear communication have created a crisis that seriously affects essential public services and reveals significant weaknesses in the regulatory framework.
Describing air travel as vital public infrastructure rather than merely a commercial luxury, the petitioner outlines the cascading impact on critical sectors, particularly healthcare. Many passengers depend on scheduled flights for organ transplants, emergency surgeries, follow-up medical appointments, and consultations with specialists.
Reports from hospitals indicate missed operations, delayed treatments, and emotional distress for patients and their families due to last-minute cancellations.
The plea also addresses the adverse effects on India’s competitive academic landscape. Students preparing for entrance exams, campus interviews, scholarship assessments, and admission deadlines have faced lost opportunities due to these aviation disruptions.
Many travel from remote areas after making significant financial and emotional investments, only to encounter last-minute cancellations that disrupt their plans.
The letter raises alarms about substantial service deficiencies, including inadequate prior notification, poor refund processes, rejection of alternative routing, and limited grievance-handling systems.
It questions whether airlines, operating in a regulated, high-dependency environment, have lived up to their care obligations under consumer protection and fair-trade principles.
Additionally, There is strong criticism directed at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with the petitioner describing their responses as “delayed, ineffective, and lacking contingency planning.”
The representation argues that regulatory bodies failed to anticipate or avert this large-scale disruption, especially given Indigo’s significant market presence.
The authorities’ silence amid widespread public suffering, according to the plea, signifies administrative inaction. The crisis engages constitutional guarantees under Article 21, covering dignity, mobility, timely healthcare access, and uninterrupted opportunities.
Given the situation of lakhs of passengers who are stranded, diverted, or facing economic burdens, the petitioner asserts that the magnitude and repercussions of this disruption warrant judicial intervention.
The plea calls on the Supreme Court to compel the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide a status report on the root causes of the crisis and the measures being taken to address it. It also seeks directives to establish emergency aviation protocols that ensure alternative travel arrangements, financial compensation, and prioritization for medical emergencies.
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