IndiGo Faces Major Disruptions with Over 200 Flights Affected in India

Post by : Raina Nasser

India's leading domestic airline, IndiGo, encountered significant operational hurdles on December 3rd, resulting in more than 200 flights being either delayed or cancelled. This situation created considerable distress for numerous travelers nationwide. The airline issued a public apology, acknowledging that their operations had been “severely disrupted across the network for the previous two days” and expressed regret over the impact on passenger journeys.

The airline detailed that several unforeseen operational issues instigated these widespread cancellations. Factors such as minor technical issues, seasonal flight schedule adjustments, adverse weather conditions, and increased airport congestion all contributed. Additionally, new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations for crew members diminished IndiGo's capacity to manage disruptions effectively.

The situation was exacerbated by Cyclone Ditwah's impact on coastal regions like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. A report from Hindustan Times pointed out that an emergency software update for Airbus A320s introduced over the weekend of November 29-30 further complicated crew scheduling and intensified delays amid stringent regulatory requirements.

The widespread effects of these disruptions were evident at key airports. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad registered 19 departures and 21 arrivals that were cancelled, while Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru witnessed 62 domestic cancellations affecting crucial routes such as those to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata, and Lucknow. In Mumbai, 33 flights were removed from schedules, urging passengers to confirm their flight statuses before heading to the airport. Meanwhile, Kolkata saw 10 cancellations and 85 delays, impacting connections from major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

IndiGo has attributed this operational turmoil partially to a shortage of available pilots, linking it to stricter fatigue-management rules implemented in July and November 2025. These revised FDTL regulations necessitate longer rest periods for pilots, aiming to reduce fatigue but complicating scheduling processes for high-frequency airlines like IndiGo, which operates around 2,300 flights daily.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed an ongoing investigation into the disruptions and requested IndiGo to provide a comprehensive account of the issues, accompanied by mitigation strategies. According to DGCA data, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights just in November, with 755 related to crew and FDTL constraints, 258 due to airport or airspace restrictions, 92 stemming from ATC system failures, and 127 caused by other issues. These disruptions were noted to have significantly impaired IndiGo's on-time performance, which dropped from 84.1% in October to 67.7% in November.

In response to these challenges, IndiGo announced a series of “calibrated adjustments” aim to stabilize flight operations and enhance punctuality over the next 48 hours. The airline stated that their teams are tirelessly working to alleviate passenger discomfort, offering alternative travel arrangements or refunds as necessary. Passengers are encouraged to regularly verify their flight statuses prior to travelling.

Despite these proactive measures, reports indicated that on December 4th, IndiGo was still facing delays and cancellations across the country. Images from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport displayed information boards continuing to show disruptions, underlining the challenges that the airline is grappling with in resolving the operational crisis.

IndiGo's flight disruptions highlight the difficulties that India's busiest airline faces in navigating regulatory compliance, crew availability, and passenger demands, especially during high-stress operational periods and adverse conditions.