In a 16-page order, the regulator said that the large scale cancellations, which formed a significant share of IndiGo’s scheduled capacity, amounted to a withholding of services from the market. The Commission said this created artificial scarcity and restricted consumer access to air travel during a period of peak demand.
The CCI noted that such conduct by a dominant enterprise could be viewed as restricting the provision of services under Section 4(2)(b)(i) of the Competition Act, which deals with abuse of dominant position.
Observing that, on a prima facie basis, the airline’s actions appeared to have caused an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India, the Commission directed its Director General to carry out a detailed investigation.
IndiGo chaos
IndiGo had faced widespread operational issues in early December, following which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation curtailed the airline’s winter schedule by 10 per cent until February 10.
According to the regulator, between December 3 and December 5, a total of 2,507 flights were cancelled and 1,852 flights were delayed, affecting more than 3 lakh passengers at airports across the country.
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