IndiGo to cancel more flights in coming 2-3 days
What's the story
IndiGo Airlines has sought an exemption from new pilot rest and duty norms for its A320 fleet till February 10, 2026. It admitted that the disruptions arose "primarily from misjudgment and planning gaps" in implementing Phase 2 of the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) norms, leading to shortage of pilots amid winter weather and congestion. The changes include temporarily rolling back the night duty definition from midnight to 5:00am to midnight to 6:00am and suspending the cap on night landings.
Operational impact
IndiGo warns of continued flight cancellations
"These issues, combined with winter operational constraints, have contributed to the sharp spike in cancellations and delays," IndiGo told the DGCA, which had summoned the airline over the operational issue. "More cancellations will continue for the next 2-3 days as part of schedule stabilization efforts....From December 8 onwards, the airline will reduce its flight operations to minimize disruption," the DGCA quoted the airline as saying. According to Reuters, IndiGo told DGCA its operations will be fully restored by February 10.
Government response
IndiGo's operational disruptions prompt government intervention
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu had summoned IndiGo officials to discuss the issue with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Airports Authority of India (AAI). Naidu expressed "displeasure regarding the manner in which the situation has been handled by the airline, and stressed that ample preparatory time had been available to ensure a seamless transition to the new regulatory requirements." The ministry said it was closely monitoring IndiGo's network.
Staffing challenges
IndiGo's staffing levels rise after new norms
At the meeting, IndiGo told DGCA that the disruptions were due to transitional issues in implementing Phase 2 of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. These rules, which came into effect on November 1 as per a court directive, require more pilots than anticipated by IndiGo. The new rules increased the amount of mandatory rest per week for pilots from 12 to 48 hours. In addition, pilots are now only allowed two nighttime landings per week, down from six.
Regulatory oversight
DGCA monitors IndiGo's network performance
The DGCA has issued directives to IndiGo, including submitting a crew recruitment and aircraft induction roadmap, revising plans to stabilize operations, and providing fortnightly progress reports on improvements in crew availability and scheduling. As disruptions continued, DGCA teams conducted on-ground inspections at major airports such as Delhi's Terminal 1. Inspectors found IndiGo's passenger-handling staff was inadequate to manage the surge of stranded travelers, causing overcrowding and delays in assistance.