IndiGo cancels 200 flights a day as new rules hit crew availability

India Dec 04, 2025

IndiGo is canceling about 200 flights daily because new government rules on pilot work hours left them short-staffed.
The airline admitted they misjudged how much these changes would impact operations and are now asking for some rule exemptions.
Starting December 8, they're also cutting back their daily schedule to help manage the chaos.

Flight delays, hiring spree, and financial hits

On-time performance has crashed—from 87% in October to just under 20% on December 3—with over 1,500 flights canceled so far.
IndiGo says they're working toward full recovery by February 2026.
CEO Pieter Elbers is calling for teamwork from staff, while rising costs and falling share prices are adding extra pressure on the airline.