Passengers across major Indian airports experienced severe disruptions as multiple IndiGo flights were cancelled, resulting in long queues, emotional distress, and travel chaos that has continued into early December 2025.

Following the implementation of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which placed stricter limits on pilots’ duty hours and mandated extended rest periods to enhance safety, IndiGo faced acute crew shortages.

In response to the widespread flight cancellations and delays, the DGCA abruptly placed the new FDTL orders in abeyance with immediate effect until February 10, 2026, intending to stabilise operations and ease passenger inconveniences.

The Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced measures to support stranded passengers, including refunds without rescheduling charges, hotel accommodations, and transport aid.

Meanwhile, IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruptions and forecast a return to near-normal operations between December 10 and 15, following significant efforts to mitigate the crisis.​

Flight Cancellations and Passenger Turmoil

From December 3 through December 6, over 1,800 IndiGo flights were cancelled across India’s busiest airports Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune with more than 400 flights cancelled on December 6 alone. For example, Bengaluru airport reported 73 IndiGo flights cancelled on December 4, and Mumbai airport faced cancellations ranging between 60 to 85 flights daily in this period.

These cancellations and resulting delays brought India’s busiest airports to a near standstill during a peak travel season. Punctuality rates dropped below 70%, further aggravating passenger distress. Families, senior citizens, and vulnerable groups were particularly affected, with many stranded for hours in queues, struggling to get timely updates or rebookings.

Social media platforms were flooded with complaints, highlighting poor communication from IndiGo staff and the anxiety caused by the unpredictable schedule changes. The situation was dire enough to prompt the Civil Aviation Ministry to issue reminders to airlines to provide special attention to elderly, PWD (persons with disabilities), and medical cases.​

In a bid to assist passengers, IndiGo provided a 24×7 customer service control room and set up aid points at various airports, but many travellers reported insufficient support and delays in refunds or alternate arrangements.

While IndiGo’s CEO Pieter Elbers publicly apologised for the inconvenience and pledged to restore flight operations to near normalcy by mid-December, some experts warn that the recovery depends heavily on effective crew management and regulatory cooperation.​

DGCA Flight Duty Rules Impact

The root cause of IndiGo’s operational challenges traces back to the DGCA’s revision of Flight Duty Time Limitations aimed at increasing pilot rest periods and reducing fatigue risks.

Introduced in 2024 and fully enforced in December 2025, the updated FDTL rules capped night flying duties, limited consecutive flying hours, and mandated a minimum 48-hour weekly rest period.

These changes are internationally recognised safety measures designed to reduce the chance of human error and pilot exhaustion in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.

However, IndiGo’s fleet and crew planning were apparently insufficient to accommodate these tighter duty hour restrictions. The airline faced acute manpower shortages, leading to flight cancellations and widespread disruption.

In November, over 1,200 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, with 755 attributed directly to crew shortages. The challenges intensified in early December despite IndiGo’s efforts to contend with technical issues and crew planning adjustments. Industry insiders point out that the airline’s aggressive growth and tight crew scheduling left little buffer to absorb the impact of these revised limitations.​

The DGCA’s decision to suspend the FDTL rules temporarily came amid mounting passenger grievances and operational pressures, marking a rare regulatory intervention to allow operational flexibility. Alongside this, the DGCA instructed IndiGo to submit a detailed explanation for the recent chaos and announced a high-level government inquiry.

The suspension permits IndiGo to operate with less restrictive pilot duty time limits until February 10, 2026, intending to prevent further cancellations during this busy travel period and give the airline time to align its manpower with safety requirements.​

Government and IndiGo Response: Measures and Mitigation

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu responded swiftly to the disruptions and assured passengers that the government is committed to upholding safety without compromising passenger convenience. The Ministry instructed IndiGo and other carriers to process refunds for affected passengers by 8:00 PM on December 7 without any rebooking or rescheduling charges.

It also mandated the provision of food, hotel accommodation, and ground transportation to stranded travellers. Minister Naidu emphasised that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with airline management to facilitate quick resolution.

IndiGo’s senior leadership acknowledged the crisis and pledged transparent communication in these difficult times. CEO Pieter Elbers announced a waiver window for refunds and flight changes till December 15 to ease travel disruptions.

He projected a significant drop in cancellations post-December 7, with operations gradually normalising by December 10-15, dependent on crew availability and regulatory approvals. While IndiGo battles to contain losses and restore customer trust, rival airlines have leveraged the situation, with the government capping fares on routes impacted by IndiGo’s cancellations to protect consumer interests.​

Impact on Passengers and Industry Outlook

The disruptions have left passengers frustrated with rebooking difficulties, missed connections, and sudden schedule changes. Vulnerable groups such as elderly passengers, those travelling with children, and persons with disabilities have voiced urgent appeals for smoother processes and empathetic handling by airlines.

The crisis highlights the delicate balance between regulatory safety mandates and operational feasibility in India’s fast-growing civil aviation sector, which carries over 200 million passengers per year.

Industry analysts caution that airlines must improve crew management and scheduling strategies to absorb future regulatory changes without affecting service quality.

The DGCA is expected to work closely with carriers to phase in safety norms more effectively while ensuring continuous dialogue with passenger rights groups. Investors are watching IndiGo’s handling of this episode closely as its market leadership faces scrutiny over operational resilience amid safety transitions.​

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

This unfolding crisis exemplifies a critical aviation reality: pilot fatigue regulations are essential for safeguarding lives, yet their implementation requires proactive planning and passenger-centric approaches. IndiGo’s operational scramble underscores the importance of foresight in balancing crew welfare with reliable, empathetic customer service. The government’s swift intervention to suspend FDTL rules temporarily and mandate passenger protections reflects a responsible approach to navigate safety and service challenges.