NEW DELHI — IndiGo faced a major operational setback this week after the airline cancelled 1,232 flights, prompting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to step in to address widespread delays and disruptions across its network.
According to information submitted to the DGCA on Wednesday, a majority of cancellations — 755 flights — were caused by crew shortages linked to compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations. Another 258 flights were disrupted due to airspace restrictions, while 92 were affected by air traffic control system failures.
In a statement, the DGCA said it is investigating the situation and working closely with IndiGo to identify ways to reduce cancellations and minimise inconvenience for travellers. The regulator has directed the airline to appear at DGCA Headquarters to present the factors behind the disruptions as well as its mitigation plan.
“A large share of cancellations arose from crew/FDTL compliance and airport, airspace, and ATC-related factors, many of which lie beyond the operator’s direct control,” IndiGo said.
The carrier also reported a significant decline in its on-time performance, dropping to 67.7 percent in November from 84.1 percent in October. The DGCA said it has offered additional clarification on the implementation of revised FDTL norms to help the airline stabilise operations.
IndiGo told the regulator it is strengthening crew planning and rostering while improving coordination with airports and ATC authorities to manage capacity constraints and streamline turnaround procedures. Passengers were advised to check their flight status through official channels before heading to the airport.
The disruptions were felt most acutely on Wednesday, when widespread cancellations hit key hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. While some delays and cancellations occurred on Tuesday, the situation escalated sharply a day later, straining schedules across the network.
“We acknowledge that IndiGo’s operations have been significantly disrupted across the network for the past two days, and we sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused,” the airline said.
IndiGo attributed the cascading disruptions to a combination of unforeseen challenges, including minor technology issues, seasonal schedule adjustments, adverse weather, heavy system congestion, and the rollout of updated crew-rostering rules under FDTL. Together, these factors compounded in ways the airline said were difficult to anticipate.
To contain the fallout, IndiGo said it has introduced calibrated schedule adjustments that will remain in effect for 48 hours to help stabilise operations and gradually restore punctuality. The airline added that staff are working round the clock to assist passengers, offering alternative travel arrangements or refunds where applicable. (Source: IANS)
