India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing a major operational crisis, with over 1,500 flights canceled in four days ending December 5, 2025 – with over 700 flights canceled in a single day on Friday alone. Travelers at major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai complained of chaos: long queues, food shortages, and poor communication, leaving thousands stranded, including newly married couples who attended their receptions via video calls. According to an official advisory, all domestic IndiGo departures were stopped at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport till midnight on December 5, while other airlines were operating normally. Frustrated passengers vented out on social media, demanding refunds and accountability, with some facing skyrocketing fares on options like Akasa Air (up to ₹24,000 for Delhi-Mumbai).
Main reasons: Crew shortage and regulatory changes
The disruptions are due to IndiGo’s failure to adapt to Phase 2 of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules that will come into effect from November 1, 2025, following the court-ordered fatigue-management rules that came into effect from July. These rules limit night duties and mandate increased rest, but IndiGo miscalculated crew needs, exacerbating the shortage during peak winter times, especially at nights when most flights operate. A recent A320 software glitch and bad weather exacerbated the problem, but experts blame the airline’s understaffing and late hiring, while rivals had anticipated the changes. There were 1,232 flight cancellations in November, of which 755 were FDTL-related, causing on-time performance to decline to 67.7% from 84.1% in October. By December 3, it had fallen to 19.7% in six metro cities.
In a DGCA review on December 4, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed “displeasure” over IndiGo’s attitude, and ordered immediate sending of more help for passenger assistance and no hike in fares. The regulator noted the shortage of ground staff at Delhi Terminal 1 and directed to submit a progress report in fortnightly.
Road to recovery: Demand for relaxation, cancellation continues
IndiGo has apologized, and promised to provide food, rebooking, accommodation and refund. It plans to reduce flights starting December 8 to fix the schedule, and expects more cancellations through December 7-8. Most importantly, the airline is seeking temporary FDTL exemption for its A320 fleet till February 10, 2026 – specifically on night duty definition (para 3.11) and encroachment (para 6.1.4) – and is assuring that crew recruitment and rostering will be back to normal by then. DGCA may reject it giving priority to safety, but to reduce the pressure, it has temporarily removed some weekly rest rules.
Although IndiGo’s 60% market dominance adds to the problem, this crisis highlights the larger problems facing the aviation sector. Passengers: Check status through airline apps, opt for discounts on other airlines, and file complaint with DGCA for compensation. The situation is expected to become normal by February, but short-term travel is still difficult.
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