IndiGo crisis: DGCA's FDTL rules and pilot shortage explained
IndiGo just canceled over 1,000 flights, leaving a lot of travelers stranded.
The airline says it's working to get things back on track by mid-December, and CEO Pieter Elbers has apologized for the hassle.
So, what's behind all this chaos? It mostly comes down to new government rules and not enough pilots.
What caused the mess?
The DGCA's Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules were implemented in phases, with the most disruptive changes starting November 1, 2025, and earlier phases beginning in July 2024, making sure pilots get at least 48 hours of rest each week and limiting late-night landings.
IndiGo struggled to adjust because they didn't have enough pilots—partly due to earlier cost-cutting moves—even though they knew these changes were coming.
The DGCA gave them some flexibility until 2026, but many feel IndiGo should've planned better.