IndiGo, India's largest airline, expects to cancel fewer than 1,000 flights on Saturday, December 6, following a period of widespread disruptions. CEO Pieter Elbers stated on Friday, December 5, that operations should gradually return to normal between December 10 and 15. The airline expressed apologies to thousands of passengers affected by significant delays and cancellations that peaked on Friday.[m+7]
Major Disruptions and CEO's Apology
Friday, December 5, was the most severely impacted day for IndiGo. The airline cancelled well over 1,000 flights, representing more than half of its daily scheduled departures.This included grounding all domestic departures from New Delhi Airport, India's busiest hub, for a period.The widespread cancellations left thousands of travelers stranded at major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.[m+10]
Passengers reported long queues, misplaced baggage, and a lack of clear information regarding rebooking options.Many faced significant uncertainty and mounting expenses. Some even waited up to 12 hours for luggage, leading to frustration and heated arguments at airport counters.IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers issued a public apology for the major inconvenience caused.He acknowledged that earlier corrective measures had not been enough to address the crisis.[indiatoday+15]
Understanding the Cause of the Chaos
The primary reason for the extensive flight disruptions stems from a pilot shortage combined with "planning gaps" related to new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.These new rules, intended to enhance safety, increased pilots' mandatory weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours. They also limited night-time landings from six per week to two.IndiGo admitted that lapses in planning for the second phase of these new regulations contributed to the severe operational challenges.[m+11]
In response to the escalating crisis, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) temporarily suspended the implementation of the new FDTL norms.This temporary relief was intended to help ease the immediate operational pressure on airlines. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that the decision to pause the new FDTL rules was made solely in the interest of passengers.[m+5]
Government Takes Action
The Ministry of Civil Aviation intervened decisively to protect passenger interests. It ordered IndiGo to clear all pending passenger refunds without delay.The ministry mandated that the refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be fully completed by 8:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2025.Airlines were also instructed not to charge any rescheduling fees for passengers whose travel plans were affected by the cancellations.[timesofindia+11]
Furthermore, the government directed IndiGo to ensure that all baggage separated from passengers due to flight cancellations is delivered within 48 hours.To combat soaring ticket prices caused by the sudden demand shifts, the Civil Aviation Ministry imposed emergency fare caps on domestic flights.New maximum fares now range from ₹7,500 to ₹18,000, depending on the distance of the journey, excluding business class. Theministry warned that any delay or non-compliance in processing refunds or other directives would lead to immediate regulatory action. A high-level inquiry has also been initiated to investigate the causes of the disruptions and assign accountability.[timesofindia+11]
Path to Normalcy
On Friday, CEO Pieter Elbers outlined three lines of action IndiGo was undertaking. These included improving customer communication, addressing passenger needs, and ensuring stranded customers could travel. He also explained that the cancellations on Friday were necessary to realign crew and aircraft, allowing for a fresh start on Saturday. IndiGo stated that by Saturday, December 6, cancellations had dropped below 850 flights, a significant improvement compared to Friday's numbers. IndiGo typically operates around 2,300 flights daily.[m+3]
The airline expects operations to stabilize and fully return to normal between December 10 and 15. While the airline warns that full recovery will take time due to the scale of its operations, the immediate focus is on reducing disruptions progressively. IndiGo is working to stabilize schedules across its domestic and international network, with teams dedicated to recovery efforts. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before traveling.[m+11]
