IndiGo to return to normal operations by weekend after fog woes; CEO Pieter Elbers says assaulting pilot ‘unacceptable’

livemint.com:

IndiGo Airlines' Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers on Thursday said the airline's operations will be completely back to normal by the weekend and in due course of next week as flight cancellations over fog-related disruptions in northern India in recent days have come down. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of ‘Wings India 2024’, an aviation conclave and exhibition, at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, Elbers said the airline industry witnessed probably the worst fog in many years, impacting flight operations, which has become a challenge. "...If you see, I am sure all of you have seen that...we had probably the worst fog in many years...Many of our stations in northern India were severely impacted by the fog situation...If northern India is under a blanket of deep fog, we are having a challenge," the Indigo CEO said.

"...I would expect that the cancellation (of flights) setting is completely back to normal, provided no more fog. But we can patrol a lot of things in life, but that, we can't. But it should be completely back to normal, I would say, by the weekend and in due course of next week, I do expect that our entire operation should be back to normal..., " he added.

“We all have seen some of the situations which did not go well. We have seen some of the examples. Passengers were stressed and frustrated after long waiting hours.

But I would like to call out the incredible amount of work my colleagues have done in going beyond their normal call of duty..." he added. Referring to the viral video of a passenger assaulting an IndiGo pilot onboard, the IndiGo CEO said, “It is not acceptable. It is unacceptable...It (matter) is with the authorities now.