Why are IndiGo flights being cancelled across India? The airline’s crisis, explained

Airports across India are witnessing mounting chaos as IndiGo battles to maintain its schedule. Long lines, frayed nerves, and frustrated travelers have become common sights, with hundreds stranded for hours due to a surge of cancellations and delays hitting the country’s largest carrier for the fourth consecutive day.

Over the past four days, IndiGo has scrapped more than 1,000 flights. The disruptions have heavily impacted key hubs such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, where numerous departures and arrivals have been cancelled in quick succession.

The turmoil at IndiGo: how it unfolded

The airline has blamed the situation on “a combination of unforeseen operational challenges,” citing minor technical issues, winter scheduling shifts, airport congestion, and adverse weather among the causes.

However, regulators and aviation experts point to a deeper cause: the recent enforcement of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) — updated crew rest and duty-hour norms introduced to mitigate pilot fatigue.

Originally rolled out in January 2024 but only strictly applied this month, the regulations require:

• 48 hours of weekly rest for pilots (up from 36 hours)
• An extended night duty window (00:00–06:00)
• A reduction in allowed night landings — capped at two per week per pilot
• A limit of 8 flying hours during overnight operations

These tighter restrictions have sidelined a significant portion of IndiGo’s pilot workforce for mandatory rest precisely when the airline increased its flight frequency for the winter schedule on October 26.