IndiGo cancels 49 flights; adjusts operations to deal with weather disruptions

New Delhi/Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Budget passenger carrier IndiGo on Wednesday cancelled 49 flights due to adjustment of its flight operations undertaken to deal with expected weather-related disruptions in the coming days.

"IndiGo has informed DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) that it has cancelled 49 flights," the airline said in a statement.

"All these flights were cancelled with one-to-two days prior notice in order to re-accommodate passengers on flights at a similar time as booked. The cancellations on Feb 13th were caused by several factors like anticipated weather conditions on the 14th Feb and NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen) at various airports."

As per the statement, IndiGo has decided to curtail its schedule for the remaining period of Feb by approximately 30 flights a day.

"This is in order to stabilise its operation and adjust its crew rosters... Passengers are in the process of being informed and re-accommodated," the statement.

"As a proactive measure IndiGo has decided to continue its curtailment until the end of March. This measure has already been implemented and passengers informed. These medium term cancellations have been made to minimise the impact on passengers as alternative travel options have been offered well in advance."

The airline said that these 30 flights represent only two per cent of IndiGo's flights.

"The operations will be completely normalised by the start of the summer schedule, 31 March 2019," the statement.

Lately, industry insiders have said that the airline had cancelled about 30 flights on Tuesday and over 30 flights on Monday.

According to industry sources, the airline had cancelled around 50 flights during the last weekend due to shortage of pilots which, but IndiGo said that was due to a hailstorm that lashed the national capital and surrounding areas.