IndiGo Flight Cancellations: Airline Struggles with New Crew Rules, Seeks Time for Recovery
The ongoing chaos in Indian skies shows no signs of slowing down as the country’s largest carrier, IndiGo, grapples with severe operational turbulence. Following days of widespread disruption that left thousands of passengers stranded, the airline has officially acknowledged that "planning gaps" and a misjudgment of crew requirements are to blame. In a submission to the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo has requested time until February 10, 2026, to completely stabilize its flight schedules.
The Root of the Crisis
The disruption stems from the implementation of the second phase of India’s revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules. These regulations, which came into effect on November 1, were designed to improve safety by mandating longer rest periods for pilots and capping night duty hours to manage fatigue.
However, the transition has not been smooth. IndiGo admitted to the regulator that it significantly underestimated the manpower needed to maintain its schedule under these stricter norms. According to the airline, the requirement for pilots-in-command (captains) jumped from 2,186 in October to 2,422 in November. Unfortunately, the airline only had 2,357 captains available to fly. Similarly, the demand for first officers outstripped the current supply.
Mounting Cancellations and Passenger Fury
The result of this roster mismanagement has been a nightmare for travelers. Cancellations have skyrocketed, with the airline scrapping nearly 200 flights daily since late November. The situation deteriorated further on Friday, marking the third consecutive day of major disruptions, with reports indicating nearly 400 IndiGo flight cancellations across hubs like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad.
This operational collapse has severely impacted the airline’s reliability. Ministry data reveals a staggering drop in on-time performance, plummeting from a healthy 87 percent in October to a dismal 19.7 percent on December 4. For passengers in Odisha and across the nation, this has meant ruined holidays, missed connections, and chaos at airport terminals.
Government Intervention
Recognizing the severity of the situation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and DGCA officials have stepped in. They have issued strict directives to IndiGo to normalize operations swiftly and ensure that ticket prices do not surge due to the sudden shortage of seats.
Furthermore, during field inspections at major airports like Delhi’s Terminal 1, DGCA teams found IndiGo’s ground staff numbers to be "inadequate" for handling the sheer volume of frustrated passengers. The regulator has ordered an immediate increase in manpower to manage the crowds.
IndiGo holds over half of the domestic market share, making its recovery vital for the country's aviation sector. The airline has proposed a roadmap to the DGCA, detailing plans for aggressive pilot recruitment, training, and a complete restructuring of their rostering system. They have also sought temporary exemptions from certain FDTL clauses to help bridge the gap.
While the airline aims to reduce flight frequencies temporarily to match their crew strength, full normalcy is only targeted by early February. Until then, the DGCA will demand a progress report every 15 days to ensure the carrier gets back on track without compromising safety.
