Flight Duty Rules, Crew Shortage Push IndiGo into Crisis
Minister Chairs Review as IndiGo Grapples with Flight Disruptions
New Delhi: India’s largest airline by market share, IndiGo, has been grappling with a wave of operational disruptions and cancellations across its domestic and international network, exposing vulnerabilities in crew planning, regulatory compliance, and contingency management. Over the past weeks, passengers have experienced sudden cancellations, long delays, and sporadic communication from the airline, leading to widespread frustration and logistical chaos at major airports. The disruptions have coincided with the phased implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations, regulations intended to enhance fatigue management for crew and improve flight safety, which were mandated by court directions and enforced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The new norms restrict maximum duty hours, night landings, and require additional rest periods, significantly increasing the number of crew required to maintain IndiGo’s operational schedule.
According to internal data presented to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, IndiGo attributed the current operational difficulties to a combination of factors, including challenges in crew scheduling, implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations norms, and seasonal weather constraints that have affected flight operations in northern and eastern India. The airline acknowledged that the increased crew requirements, coupled with an existing shortage of pilots and cabin crew, strained its ability to maintain its usual reliability metrics. Recent figures indicate that on certain days in early December, the airline cancelled more than 200 flights in a single day, while the on-time performance of its fleet fell to historically low levels, reflecting the cumulative impact of regulatory adjustments and operational miscalculations.
INDIGO FLIGHT DISRUPTION FACTS
Period Covered: November–early December 2025
Total Cancellations (November 2025): 1,232 flights
Breakdown of Causes:
Crew shortages / FDTL compliance: 755 flights
Airspace / airport restrictions: 258 flights
Air Traffic Control (ATC) failures: 92 flights
Other reasons: 127 flights
On-Time Performance (OTP)
October 2025: 84.1 %
November 2025: 67.7 %
Early December (peak disruption days): 19.7 %
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken serious note of the disruptions, and Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, personally chaired a high-level review meeting with IndiGo’s senior management on December 4, 2025. The meeting included the Secretary of Civil Aviation, the Director General of Civil Aviation, senior ministry officials, and representatives of the Airports Authority of India. During the session, the Minister expressed clear displeasure over the airline’s handling of the situation, emphasising that sufficient preparatory time had been available for a seamless transition to the revised duty time norms. He instructed IndiGo to urgently normalise operations and to ensure that passenger fares remain unaffected by the ongoing disruptions.
The Minister further directed the airline to proactively inform passengers of any likely cancellations and to provide all necessary facilities, including hotel accommodation where required, to minimise inconvenience. Officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation were tasked with coordinating among all stakeholders, including airports, air traffic control authorities, and other carriers, to ensure that normalcy is restored swiftly. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been instructed to conduct strict real-time monitoring of IndiGo’s operations, including field inspections at major airports, with particular attention to passenger-handling arrangements and communication during delays and cancellations. Officers have been deployed to IndiGo’s operational control centres for continuous oversight of flight schedules and contingency responses.
The disruptions have sparked broader debate over airline preparedness, regulatory enforcement, and the adequacy of contingency planning in India’s fast-growing aviation sector. Observers note that while the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations norms are designed to improve flight safety, their phased introduction and IndiGo’s apparent underestimation of crew requirements have exposed operational fragility. For passengers, the immediate impact has been tangible, with stranded travellers, disrupted itineraries, and mounting uncertainty over flight availability. Industry insiders suggest that stabilising operations will require not only adjustments to crew schedules but also enhanced coordination across airports, air traffic control, and ground services.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has underscored its commitment to smooth air travel and passenger rights, with close monitoring of IndiGo’s operational recovery expected to continue until full stability is achieved. The airline faces the dual challenge of restoring reliability while adhering to newly imposed regulatory requirements, an exercise that government officials have indicated will be observed meticulously.
The unfolding situation at IndiGo, the nation’s dominant carrier, offers a real-time illustration of how regulatory change, operational planning, and logistical execution intersect in India’s complex aviation ecosystem. Whether the airline can reconcile its operational ambitions with the stringent duty time limitations and maintain its network reliability will remain a closely watched test for both the industry and regulators.
– global bihari bureau
