IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is facing its fourth consecutive day of severe operational disruptions, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the country. On Friday, the situation remained particularly dire at Delhi’s IGI airport, where 135 departures and 90 arrivals were cancelled since morning, making it the worst-hit airport in India.

Other major airports also experienced widespread cancellations. Bengaluru Airport saw 52 incoming and 50 outgoing flights cancelled, while Hyderabad recorded 92 cancellations throughout the day. Over the past four days, the airline has scrapped more than 1,000 flights nationwide, creating unprecedented travel chaos.

The Origins of the Crisis

The turmoil began earlier this week when a software advisory for IndiGo’s Airbus A320 fleet caused multiple delays, pushing flights into late-night schedules. This initial disruption triggered a cascading operational breakdown once stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules came into effect.

The new FDTL norms, designed to prevent pilot fatigue, have sharply reduced the number of flights pilots can operate, especially during red-eye hours. Even before this week’s meltdown, IndiGo was dealing with a persistent pilot shortage, leading to over 25 daily cancellations.

Once the A320 delays caused aircraft to land past midnight, many pilots were automatically placed into mandated rest periods, grounding planes and causing schedules to collapse “like dominoes.” The airline’s winter schedule, which increased flight frequencies from October 26, exacerbated the issue, stretching already tight crew rosters.

Why IndiGo Was Hardest Hit

IndiGo operates a high-frequency, high-utilisation model, with numerous early-morning and late-night flights. The FDTL rules—mandating longer rest periods, restricting night landings, and limiting consecutive night duties—hit this model particularly hard. Key mandates include:

• 48-hour weekly rest for pilots (up from 36 hours)
• Maximum of two night landings per week per pilot
• Only two consecutive night duties allowed
• Maximum of 8 flying hours per day for flights touching the night window

These restrictions, combined with existing staffing constraints and the A320 software-related delays, created a perfect storm for operational disruption.

Cancellations Across India

The scale of the cancellations has been significant:

• Over 400 flights cancelled on Thursday alone
• More than 150 cancellations on Wednesday
• Continued cancellations into Friday, with Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad hardest hit

Passengers have reported long queues at airport counters, inadequate information, and last-minute flight cancellations, further fueling frustration. Many travellers were forced to spend hours at airports with minimal support.

IndiGo Acknowledges Planning Gaps

The airline has admitted that the crisis was due to “misjudgment and planning gaps,” noting that actual crew requirements far exceeded internal estimates when the FDTL rules were enforced by court order. IndiGo has sought temporary exemptions from certain night-duty regulations but has indicated that flight reductions and rescheduling will continue for the next few days as it attempts to stabilise operations.

DGCA Intervention

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conducted inspections at major airports, identifying instances of inadequate passenger-handling arrangements amid swelling crowds. The aviation regulator continues to monitor the situation closely and is working with IndiGo to mitigate disruptions.

Passenger Impact

Thousands of passengers have been affected, with many expressing frustration over the lack of alternate options and delayed information. IndiGo has urged travellers to check flight status before heading to airports and to consider flexible or refundable bookings to manage potential disruptions.

What Lies Ahead

IndiGo has warned that stabilising operations will take time, and cancellations are expected to remain elevated for the immediate future. With limited alternatives for air travel in India—given IndiGo’s dominant market share—the disruption is likely to continue affecting thousands of passengers until the airline regains control of its schedule.

The ongoing crisis underscores the challenges of balancing high-frequency flight operations with stricter safety regulations and fatigue-control norms. For now, passengers are advised to remain vigilant, stay updated on flight statuses, and plan for delays as IndiGo works to restore normalcy.