New Delhi: India's Ministry of Civil Aviation has ordered IndiGo, the country's largest airline, to reduce its flight operations by 10 percent. This directive came after widespread flight cancellations and disruptions, which left thousands of passengers stranded across the nation. The cut means IndiGo will operate approximately 220 fewer daily flights during its ongoing winter schedule. The government's intervention escalated from an earlier 5 percent reduction proposed by the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}. ### Pilot Shortage Triggers Crisis The core of IndiGo's operational crisis lies in its failure to adapt to new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules. These stricter regulations, aimed at improving pilot rest and safety, came into full effect on November 1, 2025^{[1][9][10][11][12]}. The updated rules increased the mandatory weekly rest period for pilots from 36 hours to 48 hours of continuous rest. They also reduced the number of night landings a pilot could perform, significantly impacting crew availability^[9][10]. IndiGo admitted to "misjudgment and planning gaps" in implementing these changes, leading to a severe pilot shortage^[2][12]. This crunch in available pilots forced the airline to cancel numerous flights, especially during the peak wedding and holiday season in December^[10][11]. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu blamed IndiGo for "mismanagement regarding their crew," noting that other airlines were better prepared for the regulatory changes^[9][2]. ### Thousands of Flights Cancelled, Passengers Stranded The operational meltdown began on December 2, 2025, and quickly led to thousands of flight cancellations. Over 400 IndiGo flights were cancelled on December 10 alone^[1][6]. Major metropolitan airports, including Delhi and Bengaluru, were the worst affected^[1][10][6]. Reports indicate that nearly 5,000 IndiGo flights have been cancelled since December 1, impacting tens of thousands of travelers^{[1][13][11][8]}. For example, more than 40,000 passengers faced disruptions at Mumbai airport between December 1 and December 8^[1][6][7]. Many passengers experienced prolonged delays, with some stranded for 24-48 hours at terminals^[10]. The crisis also saw a surge in airfares on other airlines, prompting government intervention to cap prices on affected routes^[9][10][11]. ### Government Steps In, Protects Passenger Rights In response to the growing chaos, the Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers to provide an update on stabilization measures^[2][3][4]. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu emphasized that the 10 percent operations cut is "necessary to curtail the overall IndiGo routes, which will help in stabilizing the airline's operations and lead to reduced cancellations"^[2][3]. The government also launched a high-level inquiry into the incident^[9][11][14]. To protect consumers, the DGCA has mandated that IndiGo process full refunds for all affected flights, with the airline confirming that refunds for flights affected until December 6 have been completed^[1][13][6]. Passengers affected by cancellations are entitled to full refunds or rebooking at no additional cost^[15][16][17]. Depending on the notice period for cancellations, passengers may also receive meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation^[18][16]. Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, president of the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, highlighted that DGCA compensation is a minimum relief, and passengers can seek further damages for financial losses or emotional distress under the Consumer Protection Act^[18]. ### Financial Strain and Future Outlook The government's order to cut 10 percent of its winter schedule means IndiGo will reduce its daily departures from a planned 2,145 flights to approximately 1,930^[19]. This significant operational reduction is expected to have a financial impact, with an estimated loss of Rs 250 crore for IndiGo in the current quarter due to the cancellations^[19]. The airline had been approved for 15,014 weekly departures for the winter season but only operated 59,438 out of 64,346 approved flights in November, recording 951 cancellations for that month^[1][20][8]. While IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers stated that operations were "fully stabilised" on December 9, cancellations continued into December 10^[3][6][7]. The DGCA has instructed IndiGo to submit a revised flight plan^[3][21][5]. The government indicated that airport slots freed up by IndiGo's capacity reduction might be offered to rival airlines to maintain connectivity and manage airfares^[2][21][22]. However, other carriers face their own aircraft shortages, potentially limiting their ability to fill the void^[22]. IndiGo plans to hire over 900 pilots by next December to address its staffing issues^[12]. The government's firm action underscores its commitment to passenger welfare and operational stability within India's aviation sector.

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