IndiGo airline's operations were affected across the country with several of its domestic flights were delayed delays due to the non-availability of crew members. Only 45 per cent of IndiGo flights were able to operate on time on Saturday, showed a data by the Union Aviation Ministry.
A significant number of crew members took sick leave and went for Air India's recruitment drive, reported Press Trust of India. "The phase-2 of Air India's recruitment drive was conducted on Saturday and majority of IndiGo's cabin crew members who took sick leave went for it," an industry official told the news agency.
The aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA, has sought an explanation from the airline over the massive delays.
"Directorate General of Civil Aviation has taken strong cognizance against IndiGo and sought a clarification/ explanation behind the massive flight delays nationwide," a DGCA official told news agency ANI.
IndiGo is yet to issue a statement on the reason behind the delays. However, it responded to several passengers on Twitter who complained about the hold up.
The budget carrier operates more than 1600 flights - domestic and international - on a daily basis, more than half of which were delayed on Saturday.
Discontent has been simmering among the employees of the country's biggest airline over continued pay cuts imposed at the beginning of the pandemic.
Initial Flight Delayed, IndiGo Passengers Miss Connecting Plane Delhi-Bengal IndiGo Flight Delayed 3 Hours Due To Intense Heat IndiGo Flight Delayed After Crew Spots Overbooked Passenger Standing US Millionaire, Who Died By Suicide, Owed $34 Million With $8,000 In Bank Elderly Man Slapped, Abused On Train Over Suspicion Of Carrying Beef UK's Seat Should Go To India: Ex-Diplomat On UN Security Council Reforms 8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Trump "Disrespected Sacred Ground' At US Military Cemetery: Kamala Harris Top 10 US Universities Based On Forbes Rankings 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.