IndiGo crisis: Board's FDTL rule failure raises governance questions

• IndiGo faces a severe operational crisis, impacting thousands of passengers, due to its failure to implement new pilot Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) regulations.
• Questions arise regarding the oversight of IndiGo's high-profile board, which includes prominent figures, and its preparedness for the FDTL rules notified almost two years ago.
• The FDTL regulations, concerning pilot rest and duty hours, were notified in January 2024 with implementation postponed multiple times, yet IndiGo appears unprepared.
• Board members largely remained silent or declined comment when asked about the crisis, raising concerns about corporate governance and accountability.
• The crisis also prompts questions about the DGCA's role in anticipating the disruption, despite claims of instructing IndiGo to prepare for the new regulations.

Why It Matters: IndiGo's crisis highlights corporate governance failures despite a strong board.