On 3 December 2025, IndiGo axed 38 flights at Delhi’s main airport and reported cancellations and delays nationwide — including major disruptions at Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad — prompting DGCA to demand a detailed mitigation plan from the carrier.
IndiGo has disclosed that the turbulence stems from a shortage of pilots caused by new roster-management rules under the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations regime, which came into force on 1 November. The airline also flagged “minor technology glitches, winter-season schedule changes, weather disruptions and overcrowded air-space” as contributing factors. On-time performance plunged to 35 percent as a result.
Internal data submitted to DGCA shows that in November alone, IndiGo cancelled 1,232 flights — 755 of them officially linked to crew-shortage under FDTL constraints. The remaining cancellations were attributed to a mix of airspace restrictions, air-traffic control system failures and other technical or logistical issues.
Critics including the Federation of Indian Pilots argue the problems go beyond regulatory changes. They blame IndiGo’s long-standing “lean manpower strategy”, including a prolonged hiring freeze and delayed recruitment, which left the airline ill-equipped to adapt once FDTL rules took effect. The lobby group claims most other carriers planned proactively and avoided such widespread disruption.
Passengers bore the brunt of the chaos: reports emerged of individuals stranded for hours at departure and arrival terminals, lost international connections, and flights rescheduled at the last minute. Many took to social media to voice their frustration over lack of timely communication or clarity from airline staff.
IndiGo has responded by implementing “calibrated schedule adjustments” over the next 48 hours to stabilise operations, offering refunds or alternate travel arrangements where required. The airline said teams are working “around the clock” to restore normalcy while acknowledging that the simultaneous onset of multiple issues made the disruption difficult to anticipate.