IndiGo’s operations have been in disarray for five consecutive days, crippling travel plans across the country as cancellations and delays mount. A routine scheduling issue early in the week has now spiralled into one of the airline’s most severe breakdowns, clogging airports and stranding thousands of passengers nationwide.
The crisis stems primarily from the enforcement of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules introduced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These norms mandate longer rest periods for pilots and limit the number of night operations they can undertake. Although airlines had been notified earlier, IndiGo appears to have underestimated the additional manpower needed to comply. This led to a significant roster gap, triggering a cascading effect across its network. The shortage has been so severe that the airline’s on-time performance had fallen to single digits at some metros.
Over the last three days, more than 1,000 IndiGo flights have been cancelled or delayed. Airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have reported the highest impact, with several early-morning departures being cancelled at short notice. Passengers have been expressing growing frustration over long queues, last-minute alerts, and difficulty securing refunds or alternate flights. Many travellers have complained of unclear communication from the airline, adding to the chaos.
In response, the DGCA has offered partial relief by easing certain FDTL rules, including withdrawing a clause that prevented airlines from counting pilot leave as weekly rest. This temporary relaxation is expected to help carriers stabilise operations sooner. The regulator has also formed a four-member panel to investigate IndiGo’s planning lapses and recommend corrective measures.
IndiGo has promised customers full refunds or free rescheduling for flights booked between December 5 and 15, while assuring that operations will gradually improve over the coming days. However, tensions on the ground continue to rise despite these assurances.
At several airports, passengers have reacted with visible anger. Videos from Delhi and Bengaluru terminals show crowds shouting at staff and demanding answers after waiting for hours without updates. Some travellers broke down while explaining urgent medical or professional commitments, while others confronted ground personnel over repeated delays. In Chennai, a group of passengers staged a sit-in near the boarding gates, accusing the airline of “abandoning” them. The growing outrage reflects not just the massive scale of the disruption but also the emotional toll it has taken on thousands who remain unsure when their flights will finally take off.
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