IndiGo disruptions: CCI seeks details from airline, DGCA; probe on dominant position underway

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has sought information from IndiGo and aviation regulator DGCA to assess whether the country’s largest airline indulged in unfair business practices following widespread flight cancellations last month, PTI reported citing sources.In early December, IndiGo, which commands over 63% share of the domestic aviation market, faced major operational disruptions that led to the cancellation of thousands of flights before services stabilised. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) curtailed the airline’s winter schedule by 10%. Sources said the anti-trust regulator has sent a set of queries to IndiGo as part of its preliminary examination of the airline’s conduct. The CCI has also sought information from the DGCA, including data on airfares, to gain a broader understanding of market conditions before deciding its next course of action.The Competition Commission is currently assessing whether there is prima facie evidence that IndiGo violated competition norms by abusing its dominant position in the market. As part of its process, the watchdog first undertakes an initial assessment before ordering a detailed investigation by its Director General (DG), if required.On December 18, the CCI said it had taken cognisance of information filed against IndiGo in connection with the recent flight disruptions across multiple routes. “Based on the initial assessment, the Commission has decided to proceed further in the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002,” it said in a release.A day later, CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur told PTI that the regulator had decided to examine the matter further based on the information available. “We have information which has come to us, and based on that information, the matter was placed before the commission. The commission has taken a view that in the initial assessment, it looks like we can go into further detail,” she said.The DGCA has already completed its probe into the operational disruptions, while the CCI continues to evaluate whether IndiGo’s conduct warrants a full-fledged investigation under competition law.