India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing an unprecedented operational crisis, with over 1,000 flights cancelled since Tuesday. The disruption, stretching into its fourth straight day, has caused widespread chaos at major hubs across the country and sent the airline’s on-time performance (OTP) crashing to a record low of 8.5% on Thursday.
Major airports like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad have been the hardest hit, with cancellations running into the hundreds daily.
Scope of the Disruption
| Airport | Cancellations (Dec 5) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi (DEL) | Departures halted until midnight (23:59) | All domestic departing flights cancelled till midnight. |
| Bengaluru (BLR) | Over 100 flights cancelled (52 incoming, 50 outgoing as of reporting) | Highest single-city disruption. |
| Hyderabad (HYD) | Around 90-92 flights scrapped | Continued heavy cancellations for the fourth day. |
| Chennai (MAA) | Departures cancelled until 6 PM | Significant disruption. |
The crisis also caused IndiGo shares to drop over 3% on the BSE.
Root Cause: Crew Fatigue Norms (FDTL)
While IndiGo initially cited “unforeseen operational challenges, pointing to tech glitches, winter congestion, and weather,” aviation officials and experts agree that the central factor is the full implementation of India’s revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.
The stricter FDTL rules, designed to curb pilot fatigue, require significant changes to rostering and crew availability:
- Increased Rest: 48 hours of weekly rest (up from 36).
- Stricter Night Rules: A longer night duty window (00:00–06:00) and limits on flying hours and night landings (just two per pilot per week).
The Domino Effect: Industry experts state that IndiGo, which operates a tightly scheduled network, failed to adequately staff and roster crew according to the new norms when the winter schedule began on October 26. An external software advisory then triggered delays, pushing flights past allowable duty hours and forcing a large section of the crew into compulsory rest, leading to the cascading cancellations.
Passenger Chaos and DGCA Intervention
Thousands of stranded passengers have reported severe inconvenience, being left for hours without clear information, food, or accommodation. Many were not informed of cancellations in advance, forcing them to rebook tickets at soaring last-minute fares on other airlines.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stepped in, summoning IndiGo’s senior management and seeking a detailed roadmap to normalize operations. The DGCA, however, has also granted partial relief on certain FDTL rules in an urgent bid to stabilize the network.
IndiGo has issued an apology to customers, assuring them that refunds will be processed automatically and that a full waiver will be offered on all cancellation/reschedule requests for travel between December 5 and December 15. The airline has informed the DGCA that it plans to reduce flight operations starting December 8 and expects to fully restore stable operations by February 10, 2026.
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