IndiGo’s crisis deepens as it seeks temporary FDTL relaxations, warns of more cancellations until December 8, and admits planning lapses.
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It seems IndiGo’s crisis is far from over, as the carrier has sought temporary relaxations in flight duty norms from aviation watchdog DGCA, saying that operations will be fully restored only by February 10. Since the implementation of the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, IndiGo has faced a severe operational crisis, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. On Thursday, approximately 550 flights were cancelled, leaving commuters struggling to navigate the situation.
The airline, which was summoned by the authorities, acknowledged that the disruptions stemmed from misjudgment and planning gaps. IndiGo also informed the regulator that there will be more cancellations until December 8, and from that day, services will be further reduced, according to a PTI report.
Notably, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has expressed his displeasure at IndiGo’s handling of the situation despite having ample preparation time.
IndiGo’s On-Time Performance Plunges to 19.7%
IndiGo, which typically operates around 2,300 flights a day and prides itself on punctuality, saw its on-time performance crash to 19.7 per cent on Wednesday, a sharp drop from 35 per cent the previous day.
The civil aviation minister has directed the airline to proactively inform passengers of any likely cancellations well in advance, while the DGCA will conduct strict real-time monitoring of its operations.
With airfares showing an uptick amid widespread cancellations, authorities are keeping a close watch to ensure prices are not hiked due to the disruptions. The ministry said officers have been stationed at IndiGo’s operational control centres for continuous oversight.
IndiGo Seeks Relaxations Till February 10
In a move likely to raise concerns within the pilots’ community, IndiGo has requested exemptions from certain Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) requirements for its A320 operations until February 10, 2026, as part of efforts to stabilise flight schedules.
The DGCA will now assess the relaxations sought by the airline.
Updating the regulator on crew availability for its A320 fleet, IndiGo said it has 2,357 captains and 2,194 first officers available in December. This is lower than the requirement in November – 2,422 captains and 2,153 first officers – numbers that rose following the rollout of the second phase of the FDTL norms. In October, the requirement stood at 2,186 captains and 1,948 first officers.
These figures highlight a shortage of pilots, a central reason behind the ongoing disruptions. With the new FDTL rules limiting the number of night landings per pilot, night operations have also taken a hit. The airline also shared future projections with the regulator, noting that crew requirements were higher than anticipated.
What’s Next For IndiGo?
IndiGo has told the regulator that corrective steps are underway and full flight normalcy will be restored by February 10, 2026, though more cancellations are expected in the coming days. From December 8, the airline will cut flight operations to minimise disruptions, according to a DGCA statement.
The regulator has asked IndiGo to submit a detailed roadmap on crew hiring plans, aircraft induction, training, roster restructuring, safety-risk assessments and mitigation measures. A progress report will also be required every 15 days.
During an inspection at Delhi’s Terminal 1, DGCA found IndiGo’s passenger-handling manpower “inadequate” and instructed the airline to urgently ramp up staff and support services.