At the cusp of India taking a giant aviation leap with the ensuing launch of Navi Mumbai International Airport, the industry was brought to its knees with massive cancellations by IndiGo.
This reminds me of the Air India crisis years ago when indefinite pilots’ strike crippled operations. The situation on the ground this time turned out to be eerily similar – massive flight cancellations, irate passengers, and helpless ground staff.
Civil aviation is a capital-intensive business, and there is need for more players to keep the industry competitive and afloat. While the government keeps announcing newer airports and ambitious plans to open unused airstrips, it needs stringent supervision, better maintenance, fair slot distribution and firmer regulation of airlines and fares. IndiGo’s emergence as market leader has created a dangerous over-reliance on a single player. When that single player falters, the entire industry collapses and the end consumer pays the steepest price.
With Vistara merging into Air India, SpiceJet struggling to stay afloat, and Akasa Air still trying to spread its wings, passengers today are left with just two options – IndiGo and Air India. With the former being a no-frills carrier, made it a reliable choice until its operational foundation opened a Pandora’s Box. The current crisis is a complete failure in enforcing FDTL norms. The airline failed due to its unstructured planning, overstretch roaster, while maintaining its lean workforce for profits.
This should be the final wake up for airlines to strategize well, and adhere to regulatory norms. Repeating mistakes of the past will only make survival tougher, and routes uncompetitive. The public fallout has also put the government in the spot, reinforcing the need for stricter framework and accountability. Policy-makers need to ensure players fall in line since the cost of complacency is damaging.
