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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a plea seeking judicial intervention into the large-scale cancellation of IndiGo flights, observing that the Union government has already taken cognisance of the crisis and initiated remedial steps.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting that lakhs of passengers remain stranded at airports across the country.

“It is a serious matter. Lakhs of people are stranded at the airports. We know that the Government of India has taken timely action and cognizance of the issue. We are aware people may have health issues and other important commitments,” the CJI said.

A lawyer mentioned that passengers were neither informed in time nor provided adequate support amid widespread cancellations. He claimed that close to 2,500 IndiGo flights had been delayed and customers were suffering at 95 airports nationwide.

Seventh Day of Disruptions

The airline’s operational paralysis entered its seventh day on Monday, with over 250 IndiGo flights cancelled from Delhi and Bengaluru alone, according to sources.

• Delhi Airport: 134 cancellations — 75 departures and 59 arrivals

• Bengaluru Airport: 127 cancellations — 65 arrivals and 62 departures

IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, has been cancelling hundreds of flights daily since December 2, attributing the meltdown to the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots. The prolonged disruptions have left lakhs of travellers stranded and triggered nationwide passenger distress.

Even as IndiGo grapples with restoring schedules, the government has issued directives on refunds, baggage delivery, and fare caps, while the DGCA has sought explanations from the airline’s top leadership.