IndiGo’s worst-ever disruption saw over 1,000 flights cancelled in a single day as the airline scrambled to reset its schedules after misjudging the impact of new pilot fatigue rules, prompting CEO Pieter Elbers to issue a rare public apology and outline a phased recovery plan. Despite acknowledging that the crisis will spill into the weekend, Elbers has assured passengers that cancellations should fall below 1,000 on Saturday and that operations are expected to normalise gradually between December 10 and 15, with waivers offered on cancellations and rescheduling during this period.
IndiGo’s massive cancellation day
In his video statement, Pieter Elbers confirmed that more than half of IndiGo’s usual daily schedule was grounded on Friday, making it the “most severely impacted” day in the airline’s history. IndiGo, which typically operates around 2,300 domestic and international flights per day, saw its network thrown into chaos as passengers were stranded at major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Elbers admitted that earlier corrective steps had not been enough and said the airline opted for a complete “reboot” of systems and schedules to stabilise operations, even though it meant the highest number of cancellations in a single day. He apologised for the “major inconvenience” caused by delays and cancellations and said the company is focused on getting affected customers to their destinations as quickly as possible.
What caused the IndiGo crisis?
Regulators and industry reports point to IndiGo’s handling of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which tightened weekly rest requirements and capped night landings for pilots, as a key trigger for the disruption. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has indicated that the airline underestimated how the revised rules would affect crew availability, leading to a shortage of pilots and cascading operational failures.
IndiGo has described the mess as a result of “misjudgment and planning gaps,” saying it needs several days to realign crew and aircraft positions across its network. The Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered a high‑level inquiry, promising that accountability will be fixed once the full chain of decisions and lapses is examined.
Relief from DGCA and steps for recovery
To ease the immediate pressure, the DGCA has temporarily relaxed certain FDTL provisions for IndiGo, granting a one‑time conditional exemption that allows more night duties and lets some pilot leave be counted as weekly rest. This relief, valid until February 10 subject to periodic review, is intended solely to help restore operational stability and reduce cancellations. For more details on ndtv.
IndiGo, for its part, has announced a full waiver on cancellation and rescheduling charges for passengers booked between December 5 and 15, advising customers to check flight status before heading to airports. The airline says it has ramped up call‑centre capacity and is issuing regular updates on social media to handle the surge in queries and complaints.
What passengers should expect next
According to Elbers, Saturday will still see significant disruption, but with fewer than 1,000 cancellations as the network reboot begins to take effect. Government officials have expressed hope that schedules will start stabilising within a few days and that full normalisation should be visible by the middle of December, though minor delays may continue as the system settles.
Travel experts advise passengers to monitor messages from the airline, use digital tools for rebooking where possible, and avoid unnecessary trips to airports until their flights are reconfirmed. They note that while IndiGo remains India’s largest carrier, the episode underscores the importance of transparent communication, robust contingency planning and regulatory oversight when major rule changes affect pilot rosters and flight safety.
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