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IndiGo’s network has collapsed under the new flight charge deadline rules, leading to mass cancellation of flights and pressurizing the DGCA to issue emergency operating exemptions.
Thousands of IndiGo passengers are stranded at airports in India after the company’s operations were disrupted due to the airline’s roster update. (x photo)
India’s aviation network has been under severe strain this week indigoThe country’s largest airline is canceling and delaying hundreds of flights at major airports. Delhi airport suspended all domestic IndiGo flights till midnight on Friday to prevent Overcrowding inside the terminals, After scenes of congestion and confusion persisted since morning. Chennai airport also stopped all IndiGo flights till 6 pm the same day, adding further pressure to the network already struggling to remain operational. Similar tension was recorded at airports in Bengaluru and Hyderabad as flight schedules were disrupted across the country.
IndiGo has now canceled over 1,500 flights in four days, with over 600 flights canceled on Friday alone and hundreds of others delayed. For thousands of travelers, the crisis has thrown travel plans into disarray.
Amidst this disruption, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday… Issued two important orders To stabilize operations nationwide, one is applicable to all airlines, and the other is specific to IndiGo, which has struggled the most with crew availability and compliance with the new stringent flight duty time limit (FDTL) norms.
But first it is important to understand what these FDTL parameters are.
What are the FDTL standards, and how did they change
Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) standards set basic work limits for pilots and cabin crew – how long they can be on duty, how many hours they can fly, how many night landings they can make, and what minimum rest they must get between duties. These rules are to ensure that the crew is given adequate rest before flight operations.
DGCA revised India’s FDTL framework in January 2024 after examining fatigue trends and comparing international practices. The revised norms were notified on May 31 last year, with compliance required starting from June 1, 2024, but airlines sought additional time as the changes impacted crew planning, scheduling and utilization.
As a result, the new norms were implemented in a phased manner, starting from July 1, 2025 and concluding on November 1 this year. The DGCA implemented the revised norms this year following a direction from the Delhi High Court, which required the regulator to implement the updated fatigue-control framework.
The rules now in effect include several major changes:
- Weekly rest extended to 48 continuous hours instead of 36
- Night time extended to 00:00–06:00 instead of 00:00–05:00
- Night landing limit reduced to two instead of six
- No more than two consecutive night duties allowed
- Additional Requirements for Fatigue Reporting and Roster Adjustments
These changes were introduced to tighten comfort requirements and reduce the stress associated with early morning departures and late night operations. But the changes also required airlines to adjust schedules, rework rosters and, in some cases, increase the strength of pilots, steps that became especially challenging after the second phase of the rollout took effect this year.
Why is FDTL in news again now?
November was the first full month in which tighter comfort limits, an extended night window and a reduced night-operation allowance were all in effect simultaneously. This coincides with the winter event, a pre-existing pilot shortage and technical problems affecting the aircraft.
This combination put pressure on crew rosters. The change highlighted differences in crew availability, and its impact was most visible on IndiGo due to its larger scale and higher utilization model.
What happened to Indigo?
The implementation of revised FDTL norms forced mandatory rest for a large section of IndiGo’s pilots as the airline increased frequencies for its winter schedule on October 26. Tensions deepened when an Airbus A320 software advisory caused weekend delays, causing many flights to move to a new rest window after midnight, making more pilots unavailable and triggering further cancellations.
According to DGCA data presented earlier, IndiGo recorded 1,232 cancellations in November alone. Of these, 755 were associated with crew and FDTL-related disruptions, 258 were due to airspace and airport restrictions, 92 were due to air traffic control system failures, and 127 were due to various other reasons. The airline’s on-time performance fell from 84.1 percent in October to 67.7 percent in November, before falling further in early December.
IndiGo said the disruption was caused by “several unexpected operational challenges”, including minor technology issues, winter schedule changes, congestion and weather.
DGCA took action as Indigo’s crisis deepened
To prevent chaos at airports due to mass cancellations, the DGCA issued a special order granting temporary, one-time exemption to IndiGo from two specific FDTL provisions – para 3.11 (night duty window 00:00–05:00) and para 6.1.4 (operations encroaching on night duty). IndiGo had said that these provisions were creating significant crew-availability constraints under the revised Phase-II limit.
The regulator said the relaxation is intended only to facilitate operational stabilization. It will be effective immediately and will remain valid till February 10, 2026, subject to mandatory review every 15 days. IndiGo will have to submit fortnightly progress reports detailing actual crew utilization, steps taken to improve availability and changes made in the plan to restore operational capacity.
The DGCA also issued an urgent appeal to pilot bodies, asking for full cooperation amid severe pressure on the aviation system during the fog period and peak holiday season. The regulator urged pilots to support stable operations and help reduce avoidable delays, and reiterated that FDTL safety criteria will continue to apply “in letter and spirit.”
Relief for all airlines
In a separate order applicable to all carriers, the DGCA temporarily withdrew the direction that had barred airlines from combining weekly rest with accumulated leave. Airlines had said that this restriction has complicated crew rostering during the current disruptions.
The DGCA said the relaxation was necessary “in view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines” and was issued with the approval of the competent authority.
How did the crisis increase on Indigo’s network?
IndiGo operates more than 2,200 flights daily, almost double the daily operations of Air India. This scale magnifies even the smallest disturbances. When rosters became imbalanced, the impact was immediate and widespread: in Delhi alone, 135 departures and 90 arrivals were canceled on Friday. Bengaluru reported 52 canceled arrivals and 50 departures; Hyderabad sees 92 cancellations; And Mumbai logged 104 on the same day.
Passengers reported being stranded for hours with little clarity. “They kept saying ‘just two more hours’ for 12 hours straight. No hotel, no food, no nothing,” said a passenger in Hyderabad, while another passenger in Bengaluru said he had to wait for more than 12 hours overnight before the flight was finally cancelled.
In the last 48 hours alone, more than 1,300 cancellations were recorded across the country, showing how quickly the disruption escalated.
What has IndiGo said about the ongoing disruption?
IndiGo issued a public statement on Friday acknowledging that the past few days have been extremely difficult for passengers and describing the situation as a “serious operational crisis”. The airline said it is doing everything in its power to stabilize operations and normalize schedules as soon as possible.
This is expected to happen today, the statement said Highest number of cancellations, What the airline described as a necessary step to “reboot all of our systems and schedules for progressive recovery starting tomorrow.” IndiGo said its teams are working closely with the ministry and DGCA to restore regular operations, and short-term proactive cancellations are being made to “simplify operations” and reduce congestion at airports.
The airline shared several commitments to affected passengers:
- Refunds for cancellations will be automatically processed back to the original method of payment.
- A full discount will be offered on cancellation or rescheduling of bookings for travel between December 5, 2025 and December 15, 2025.
- Thousands of hotel rooms and surface transportation have been arranged across cities for stranded customers.
- Food and snacks are being provided to the waiting passengers at the airports.
- Wherever possible, arrangements are being made for lounge access for senior citizens.
Indigo also urged passengers to:
- Check flight status before leaving home and avoid coming to the airport in case your flight is cancelled.
- Use the airline’s AI assistant 6Eskai for flight status, refunds and rebookings.
- Be patient as the airline has “massively increased” contact-centre capacity to reduce wait times.
The statement concluded by saying that passengers would “see progressive progress”, adding, “We will do everything we can to earn back your trust and the love you have showered on us over the last 19 years.”
December 05, 2025, 15:55 IST
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