Aircraft on Ground (AOG) Mitigation Measures for Enhanced Operational Resilience

National,September18,2024: IndiGo, India’s leading airline, has a robust Aircraft on Ground (AOG)

recovery strategy, ensuring seamless operations and minimizing disruptions to passengers. 

An AOG occurs when an aircraft is unable to fly due to technical faults or maintenance issues, either scheduled or unscheduled. At IndiGo, robust protocols are in place to mitigate these incidents, ensuring smooth flight operations. Factors that can lead to an AOG include technical malfunctions, mechanical failures, maintenance issues in remote locations where the required spares are unavailable, required skill set unavailability, or external factors such as foreign object damage, weather conditions. 

IndiGo sets itself apart in the industry with a proactive approach to maintenance and AOG mitigation, leveraging: 

• PredictiveMaintenance – Airbus Skywise's predictive maintenance platform helps anticipate issues before they become critical, ensuring proactive AOG
• ACARS*:The ACARS system enables real-time communication between aircraft and ground teams, allowing faster identification and resolution of technical
• Adequate Spare Positioning: The airline strategically positions spare parts at multiple stations, ensuring quick access to necessary components for faster
• TrendMonitoring/Reliability Analysis: Comprehensive trend monitoring and reliability analysis, even at the component
• DedicatedAOG Recovery Team: Specialized AOG recovery team ensures rapid response and resolution, minimizing aircraft
• MaintenanceControl Centre (MCC*) & Operations Control Centre (OCC*): MCC and OCC collaborate seamlessly as one team to enhance AOG management and operational
• StringentVendor Contracts: Maintain vendor contracts and continuously onboard new partners to ensure optimal spares support across the network.
• Tie-ups with Airlines/Contractors: Partner with other airlines and support contractors to secure additional spares and equipment, enabling quick aircraft
• RecurrentTraining/Association: Provide recurrent training for its maintenance teams to stay updated on the latest techniques, and creating case studies of past AOG to create awareness
• In-house Infrastructure Development: Developing in-house infrastructure, including hangars at major stations, to increase the maintenance capability and optimize the
• ProactiveAircraft Changes: Proactively implementing change of aircraft to avert AOG situation and standby or alternative aircraft at major hubs
• Strategic Planning: Efficient planning in the network schedule Comprehensive Passenger Support During AOG Situations

Constant Communication: 

• Timely announcements and notifications to keep passengers informed about the situation and next 

Rebooking and Refund Options: 

• Rebooking on alternate IndiGo flights or rerouting on other airlines (OAL) if
• Offering a one-time flight rescheduling or refunds for cancelled 

Welfare Support: 

• Provision of food and
• Arranging accommodations if
• Providing additional support for vulnerable groups, including children, senior citizens, and passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). 

Customer Care Management 

• Managing passengers through the Customer Care Center (CCC) for personalized 

Operational Excellence 

IndiGo consistently maintains a low MEL* (Minimum Equipment List) rate, minimal MEL number per aircraft, which is one of the lowest in the aviation industry. The airline also maintains 99.9% Technical Dispatch Reliability (TDR*). 

AOG challenges and global supply chain issues 

IndiGo’s AOG mitigation strategies include leveraging standby aircraft, utilizing the available buffers within the scheduled flights and aircraft swap, and initiating relief flight (as and when required) to accommodate passengers. 

IndiGo’s 24x7 Operations Control 

IndiGo’s OCC operates round the clock, staffed by a team of operations specialists, certified engineers, flight dispatchers, and meteorologists, ensuring a swift response to any AOG incidents. Regular trainings and drills are conducted to maintain high levels of readiness and flexibility. 

IndiGo continues to strengthen its AOG preparedness by positioning standby aircraft at major hubs, optimizing network scheduling, and fostering strategic partnerships with global airlines. These initiatives are aimed at reducing AOG incidents and ensuring minimal impact on passengers. 

About IndiGo 

IndiGo is amongst the fastest-growing low-cost carriers in the world. IndiGo has a simple philosophy: offer fares that are affordable, flights that are on time, and provide a courteous and hassle-free travel experience across its unparalleled network. With its fleet of 370+ aircraft, the airline is operating around 2100 daily flights and connecting 85+ domestic destinations and 30+ international destinations. India by IndiGo! For more information, please visit www.goIndiGo.in or download our mobile app. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Aviation Glossary: 

Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) - It is a digital data protocol used to send short messages between aircraft and ground stations. 

Operations Control Center (OCC) - The OCC is a central hub for an airline's operations and is responsible for monitoring, coordinating, and managing various aspects of the airline's daily activities. 

Maintenance Control Centre (MCC) - The Maintenance Control Centre usually interfaces with Operations Control Centre and Engineering teams to ensure the maximum availability of aircraft and to minimise maintenance downtime. 

Technical Dispatch Reliability (TDR) - It is a key performance metric for monitoring an airline's engineering and maintenance activities. It's calculated as a percentage of the total number of flights that are delayed due to technical issues. 

Irregular Operations (IROPS) - Refers to unusual or unexpected circumstances that prevent a scheduled flight from operating. 

Minimum Equipment List (MEL) - MEL is a list which provides for the operation of aircraft, subject to specified conditions, with equipment inoperative (which is) prepared by an operator based on manufacturers and Regulatory guidelines.