IndiGo Grapples with Mass Flight Cancellations Amid Pilot Shortage and New Regulations

Widespread Disruptions Cripple IndiGo Operations

India's largest airline, IndiGo, has been embroiled in a significant operational crisis, experiencing widespread flight cancellations and delays across the country for over a week, starting around December 2, 2025. The disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded at major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, during a peak travel season. The airline's on-time performance (OTP) plummeted dramatically, reaching as low as 3.7% on Friday, December 6, a stark contrast to its 91.4% in July.

The scale of the cancellations has been substantial, with at least 2,000 flights cancelled in the first week of December. On Friday, December 6, alone, over 1,000 flights were reportedly scrapped. Earlier in the week, on December 5, nearly 500 flights were cancelled, affecting 235 flights from Delhi, 104 from Mumbai, 102 from Bengaluru, and 92 from Hyderabad. In November, IndiGo had already recorded 1,232 cancellations, with 755 attributed to crew and FDTL constraints.

Pilot Shortage and New FDTL Norms Cited as Primary Causes

The core reason behind the extensive disruptions is an acute pilot shortage, significantly worsened by the full implementation of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on November 1, 2025. These new regulations increased mandatory weekly rest for pilots from 36 to 48 hours and introduced other restrictions aimed at mitigating pilot fatigue.

Critics, including pilot bodies and aviation experts, have pointed to IndiGo's alleged 'lean staffing strategy' and insufficient planning as key factors, despite a two-year preparatory window for the FDTL changes. IndiGo acknowledged 'misjudgement and planning gaps' and an 'operational crisis'. Minor technical glitches and pressures from the winter schedule were also mentioned as contributing to the chaos.

Parliamentary Scrutiny and Regulatory Intervention

The severity of the situation prompted immediate action from regulatory bodies and parliamentary oversight. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, led by Sanjay Jha, announced its decision to summon executives from IndiGo, along with officials from the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to provide explanations. The committee had previously issued warnings in August regarding the growing disparity between fleet expansion and the recruitment of pilots and air traffic controllers.

The DGCA issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and Accountable Manager Isidre Porqueras, demanding an explanation within 24 hours for the 'large-scale operational failures' and 'prima facie non-compliance' with aviation rules concerning fatigue management. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu publicly criticized IndiGo for 'mismanagement regarding their crew' and vowed to take strict action. In an effort to stabilize operations, the DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from certain night operation-related FDTL changes until February 10, 2026, and eased a clause regarding the clubbing of leave with weekly rest.

Impact on Passengers and Financial Repercussions

The crisis has had a profound impact on passengers, who faced prolonged waits, repeated flight rescheduling, and inadequate support at airports. The reduced flight capacity across IndiGo's network also led to a significant surge in airfares on other airlines.

Financially, IndiGo has suffered considerably, with its shares experiencing a notable decline, resulting in a loss of $4.5 billion in market value. The airline has committed to providing refunds and waivers for rescheduling, with refunds reportedly exceeding $68 million by Sunday, December 8. IndiGo anticipates that its operations will gradually return to normal by December 15, 2025, with full stabilization expected by February 10, 2026. The event has also sparked broader discussions about the Indian aviation sector's reliance on dominant carriers and the systemic risks involved.