IndiGo cancels over 1,000 flights as operations to return to normal in 10 days

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced major operational disruptions on Friday, with over 1,000 flights cancelled due to pilot shortages and rostering issues. Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports, some for up to three days, while several flights experienced delays of more than 12 hours, causing chaos and protests. Complaints of lost luggage were also reported.

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers apologised for the disruption, stating in a video message, “Over the past few days, we have been experiencing operational interruptions, which worsened on Friday, December 5. On that day alone, we cancelled more than 1,000 flights. We sincerely apologise to all affected passengers. Normal operations are expected to be restored in about ten days, with services likely stabilising between December 10 and 15.”

Passenger Hardships and Surge in Ticket Prices

The disruptions have primarily been caused by a shortage of pilots. Planning errors during the implementation of new flight duty time rules intensified the problem. Passengers reported soaring fares, with a Delhi-Mumbai flight ticket reaching ₹25,000 on Thursday night, and rescheduling forced many to spend the night at airports. Some flights were eventually cancelled early Friday morning. Passengers also struggled to locate their luggage amid the chaos. On certain routes, ticket prices reportedly surged to ₹60,000.

Normally, IndiGo operates over 2,300 daily flights with more than 400 aircraft, but operational interruptions have significantly impacted scheduling. The airline recorded just 19.7% on-time performance on Wednesday, down from 35% on Tuesday.

IndiGo Seeks Temporary Relaxation in Flight Duty Rules

In coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo requested temporary relaxations in Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) rules to stabilise operations by February 10, 2026. FDTL regulations, aimed at ensuring crew receive adequate rest, define maximum duty periods, flight hours, daily and weekly rest, and restrictions on night operations. IndiGo’s request involves exemptions for its A320 fleet to manage staffing shortages and night flight restrictions.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu held a high-level review, expressing dissatisfaction with the airline’s handling of the new rules. The DGCA has directed IndiGo to inform passengers in advance of potential cancellations, monitor fares to prevent excessive increases, and provide a detailed operational roadmap including staff allocation, roster adjustments, training, safety, and risk mitigation measures. Detailed progress reports must be submitted every 15 days.

A DGCA team inspected Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1, noting that IndiGo lacked sufficient staff to handle disruptions and passenger congestion. The airline was instructed to strengthen support services at all affected terminals.

The Federation of Indian Pilots claimed that IndiGo froze appointments despite a two-year preparatory period to fully implement the new flight duty rules. CEO Elbers admitted to staff that restoring normal operations and punctuality would not be an “easy goal.”

IndiGo has indicated that corrective actions are underway and full operational normalcy is expected by February 10, 2026. However, the airline warned that some flight cancellations are likely in the coming days as staffing adjustments and FDTL compliance continue.