IndiGo Airlines has cancelled over 150 flights across India from 2-4 December 2025 amid ongoing crew shortages, exacerbated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules since 1 November 2025.

On 4 December alone, more than 175 flights were cancelled at major hubs 73 in Bengaluru, over 30 in Delhi, and 68 in Hyderabad. These cancellations are largely due to new rules aimed at keeping pilots well-rested and alert.

IndiGo attributes disruptions to compounded factors including FDTL compliance, weather, congestion, and tech glitches, apologising while making “calibrated adjustments” for 48 hours.

DGCA’s Flight Duty Time Limitations

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules in phases, with full enforcement by 1 November 2025, to combat pilot fatigue and boost safety amid booming air travel.

These norms cap duty hours, mandate extended rest, and limit night operations, directly contributing to IndiGo’s over 600 flight cancellations from 2-4 December 2025 due to crew shortages.

• Core Daily and Flight Time Caps

Pilots face strict limits on flight time and duty periods. Basic flight time cannot exceed 8 hours daily for night operations (0000-0600 hours), with duty capped at 10 hours; daytime allows up to 10 hours flight and 13 hours duty for two-crew setups.

Extensions are permitted up to 1.5 hours flight time or 2 hours duty but trigger compensatory rest: twice the extension for up to 1 hour, or four times beyond that, with a 28-day cumulative cap of 4 extra flight hours and 8 duty hours.

Split duty, allowing a break during the day, is banned when combining with extensions, ensuring no overwork loopholes.​

These caps prioritise recovery, as fatigue risks rise exponentially beyond thresholds, per global standards from bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).​

• Weekly, Monthly, and Annual Limits

Rest and cumulative hours form the backbone of fatigue prevention.

Weekly rest jumped from 36 to 48 hours, with rest always at least twice the preceding flight time and a minimum 10 hours in any 24-hour period.

Flying is limited to 35 hours weekly, 100-125 hours monthly (depending on operations), and 1,000 hours annually; total duty cannot surpass 1,800 hours yearly.

Cabin crew mirrors this: 8-10 hours daily based on landings, up to 17-21 hours for ultra-long hauls with extra crew for in-flight rest.​

Post-duty, a minimum 12-hour rest applies if unused time occurs after reporting, humanising schedules for India’s 60% market leader IndiGo.​

• Night Duty and Consecutive Shift Restrictions

Night operations, prone to circadian disruptions, face the tightest curbs. Only two consecutive night duties allowed, with a maximum two night landings (down from six), and no more than two night landings weekly.

Sunrise/sunset alignments vary for eastern hubs like Guwahati, with harmonised scheduling from November 2025. Airlines must submit monthly fatigue-risk reports, facing up to ₹1 crore fines for non-compliance.​

These address “acrophase” peaks in fatigue during early mornings, reducing error rates in high-traffic slots.​

• Implementation Timeline and Phased Rollout

Notified in January 2024 after Delhi High Court petitions from pilots’ unions (since 2019), phase one hit July 2025 with major rest extensions; phase two completed 1 November, enforcing final clauses like cumulative caps.

Airlines lobbied for delays originally June 2024 citing 20% flight cuts, leading to suspensions and custom timelines per carrier. DGCA allowed relaxed extensions (e.g., 1-hour FDP post-departure) but upheld core limits​

Reasons for IndiGo Flight Cancellations

IndiGo’s chaos 73 Bengaluru cancellations on 4 December, 30+ Delhi, 68 Hyderabad, totalling 600+ since 2 December stems directly from FDTL rigidity clashing with rosters.

New 48-hour rests and night limits exhausted available crew during winter peaks, compounded by weather, congestion, and tech glitches

November saw 1,232 cuts (755 FDTL-linked), dropping on-time performance to 67.7%. Pilots’ groups like ALPA accused “poor planning” and “arm-twisting” regulators, while IndiGo cited “acute constraints” and made 48-hour adjustments. DGCA summoned executives amid pilot shortages in a 60% market-dominant carrier.​

Airlines underprepared despite notices, scheduling unviable flights and hoarding slots without hiring buffers.​

Broader Impacts and Safety Rationale

FDTL reforms respond to fatigue incidents, aligning with ICAO amid India’s 15% annual traffic growth straining 10-20% pilot gaps.

Benefits include halved error risks via rest, monthly reporting for proactive tweaks, and empathy for crew facing 1,000+ annual hours.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Stricter FDTL rules safeguard pilot welfare and passenger safety, nurturing empathy for overworked aviators while urging airlines to invest in humane rostering for harmonious skies.

By fostering dialogue among DGCA, carriers, and unions, India can drive sustainable growth and positive change without repeated chaos.