IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced one of its worst operational crises this week, with over 200 flights cancelled on Wednesday alone and countless others delayed, throwing domestic air travel into chaos. The massive disruption, which followed significant delays on Tuesday, was primarily attributed to an acute crew shortage, severely impacted by the recent implementation of stricter flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms.
The operational meltdown saw the airline’s on-time performance (OTP) plummet to an unprecedented low of 35% at major metro airports on Tuesday, a sharp drop for a carrier known for its punctuality. Cancellations were reported across key hubs, including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated.
Sources within the aviation sector revealed that the shortage of pilots and cabin crew followed the full implementation of the second phase of the revised FDTL norms on November 1. These new regulations mandate longer weekly rest periods for crew, effectively limiting available flying hours.
One exasperated passenger, stranded at Delhi Airport, took to social media, writing, “It’s absolute chaos. My flight was cancelled with a 3-hour notice. We were only offered a refund or re-scheduling, but all other airline fares have skyrocketed. This is poor management.”
In a statement addressing the crisis, IndiGo acknowledged the widespread disruption, attributing it to a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season… and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules.”
The airline issued an apology, stating, “We sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused.” To stabilise the network, IndiGo announced it has initiated “calibrated adjustments” to its schedule over the next 48 hours and is working to normalise operations by offering alternate flights or full refunds to affected customers.
A senior airport official, speaking on condition of anonymity, commented on the scale of the issue: “The shortage is severe. The FDTL rules were known, but the airline’s inability to manage the crew roster around them is clearly the core issue here. It has a cascading effect across the entire system.”
“Some IndiGo flights operating from Mumbai Airport may experience delays or cancellations due to airline-related operational issues. Passengers booked with IndiGo are requested to check the latest flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport,” the Mumbai airport said in a statement.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is reportedly monitoring the situation as the airline struggles to restore its schedule and recover its on-time performance.
