IndiGo, India's largest airline, cancelled over 800 flights on Saturday, December 6, 2025, continuing a week of widespread disruptions that stranded thousands of passengers nationwide.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} This came after more than 1,000 flights were cancelled on Friday, December 5, 2025.^{[1][7][2][8][3][4][5][6]} The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have intervened, summoning airline officials and initiating stern measures to address the crisis.^{[9][1][7][8][4]} ### Pilot Shortage Fuels Crisis The core reason behind IndiGo's operational meltdown is a severe shortage of pilots, exacerbated by the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15]} These revised rules, effective from November 1, 2025, mandate increased weekly rest periods for pilots, from 36 to 48 hours, and restrict night landings to two, down from six.^[10][12] The new FDTL rules also extend the definition of "night hours" by an hour, further impacting crew rostering.^[10][12] IndiGo acknowledged it "misjudged" its actual crew requirements under these new fatigue rules.^[14] The airline reportedly failed to hire or accelerate training adequately, leaving existing pilots stretched thin with frequent reassignments and longer workdays.^[11][14] Pilot associations have sharply criticized IndiGo's management, blaming the crisis on a "prolonged and unorthodox lean manpower strategy."^[10] The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) stated that the disruptions are a direct result of IndiGo's insufficient investment in retention and workplace improvements for its pilots.^[10] They also claimed that IndiGo reduced pilot leave quotas and tried to buy back pilot leave after the new FDTL rules rolled out, further damaging morale.^[10] The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) suggested that the cancellations might be a tactic to pressure regulators into diluting the new safety norms.^[11][14] ### Government Takes Action The civil aviation ministry and the DGCA have taken a firm stance against IndiGo. The DGCA issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Saturday, holding him directly accountable for "significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management."^[1][8][4] The notice stated that the large-scale operational failures indicate "prima facie non-compliance" by the airline and demanded an explanation within 24 hours.^[1][8] Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, along with senior ministry officials, held a "serious meeting" with Elbers to assess the situation.^[1] In response to the crisis, the government also moved to protect passengers. It imposed caps on domestic economy-class airfares, ranging from ₹7,500 for distances up to 500 km to ₹18,000 for distances above 1500 km. Thi^[7][2][3][6]s measure aims to curb the skyrocketing ticket prices caused by the cancellations. Fur^{[7][2][3][4][6]}thermore, the ministry directed IndiGo to process all refunds for cancelled flights by Sunday evening, December 7, 2025. The^{[7][2][3][4][6]} airline was also instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers affected by the disruptions. The^[2][3][4][6] Ministry of Civil Aviation also ordered IndiGo to trace and deliver any baggage separated from passengers due to the chaos within 48 hours. In^[1][3] a significant move, the DGCA granted IndiGo a temporary, one-time exemption from certain key night-operation provisions of the new FDTL norms until February 10, 2026. Thi^{[11][12][14][5]}s relaxation includes modifying the definition of 'night' and allowing up to six night landings instead of two. The^[14] regulator also withdrew a clause that prevented airlines from substituting weekly rest periods with leave. Thi^[11][12][14]s relief is intended to help IndiGo stabilize its operations, but the DGCA emphasized it does not dilute safety requirements and will be reviewed fortnightly. ## Passenger Anguish and Airline's Path to Recovery Thousands of travelers faced immense inconvenience, being stranded at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Man^[1]y passengers reported receiving last-minute updates, poor communication from the airline, and long queues. Ind^[1]iGo's on-time performance plummeted to as low as 3.7 percent on Friday, December 5, a sharp decline from its usual punctuality. Thi^[2][5]s widespread disruption led to passenger anger and frustration. Ind^[9][1][16]iGo employees, including pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff, accused the management of poor planning and failing to protect frontline workers who faced public ire. In^[9]diGo CEO Pieter Elbers, after an initial silence, issued an apology for the "major inconvenience" caused to passengers. The^[2][5] airline stated it is working "determinedly" to bring its operations back on track, focusing on stabilizing schedules, reducing delays, and prioritizing customer refunds. Ind^[2][4][5]iGo expects full operational stabilization only by February 10, 2026, with continued cancellations anticipated until at least December 8, 2025. The^[9][14][16] airline also announced it would start scaling down flight operations from December 8 to minimize further disruptions. As ^[9]an alternative, Indian Railways deployed additional and special trains to assist stranded passengers. Leg^[7][6]al experts have noted that passengers are entitled to compensation under DGCA guidelines and can pursue claims under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, for deficient service. ## Outlook and Consequences The ongoing crisis has significantly damaged IndiGo's reputation, an airline that has long prided itself on punctuality. Ind^[10][13]ustry experts and pilot unions have raised concerns about the airline's long-term planning and resource management. The^{[10][11][14][15]} DGCA has indicated that regulatory action may be initiated against the airline for non-compliance and operational lapses. Ind^[7][2][8][4]iGo has been directed to submit a full compliance roadmap within 30 days to the DGCA. The^[14] government's intervention underscores the seriousness of the situation, highlighting the need for airlines to adhere to safety regulations and ensure adequate operational readiness. The focus now remains on IndiGo's ability to swiftly restore stable operations and rebuild passenger trust.

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