Mumbai: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, slipped deeper into operational chaos on Friday as the fourth straight day of mass cancellations pushed the total count past 1,000 flights, sparking anger and frustration among thousands of stranded passengers across the country.
Crowds piled up at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and several Tier-2 cities as passengers reported 10–12 hour delays, unresponsive support desks and skyrocketing fares on other airlines.
Delhi Worst Hit, FDTL Norms Blamed
With 225 cancellations in Delhi alone, the IGI Airport bore the brunt of the disruption. Mumbai and Bengaluru logged over 100 cancellations each, while Hyderabad reported 92.
The crisis stems from IndiGo’s struggle to implement the second phase of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which restricts night flying hours for pilots. The airline admitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that it miscalculated crew requirements, creating a severe shortage.
The regulator, after reviewing IndiGo’s internal communication, said the disruptions “resulted from inaccurate planning during the rollout of FDTL Phase 2.”
Full Normalcy Only by February 10, 2026
In a written submission to DGCA, IndiGo said that while limited relief may come after December 8, flight operations will not return to normal before February 10, 2026 — more than two months away.
Passengers, meanwhile, continue to recount grim experiences.
Abhishek Chauhan, travelling from Ahmedabad to Varanasi, said:
“We’ve been stuck for 12 hours. No meals, no water. Other airlines’ fares have doubled or tripled. It’s a complete mess.”
Rahul Gandhi Slams Government
Adding political heat to the aviation crisis, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi attacked the government, calling the situation a consequence of “monopolistic policies.”
“IndiGo fiasco is the cost of this government’s monopoly model. Ordinary Indians are paying the price,” he posted on X.
More Turbulence Ahead
IndiGo warned that passengers should brace for persistent cancellations until mid-December, and even after that, a significant reduction in services will continue until crew availability stabilises.
