India’s aviation sector is facing significant disruption as IndiGo, the nation’s largest carrier, grapples with widespread flight cancellations. Over 500 flights were grounded on Thursday alone, impacting thousands of travelers. In response, the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA have initiated a detailed review, with Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu personally assessing the situation and meeting with IndiGo’s leadership.
The minister has issued a stern warning to IndiGo against increasing airfares during this period of operational turmoil. He emphasized that ample preparation time was available for the airline to adapt to new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms and manage crew planning challenges. The Ministry is closely monitoring developments and has directed airport authorities to provide support to stranded passengers.
IndiGo attributes the disruptions to crew planning issues, the FDTL norm implementation, and seasonal weather patterns. The airline has informed the DGCA that it will curtail operations starting December 8th and anticipates a full normalization of flight schedules by February 10, 2026. This extended timeline suggests deep-rooted issues affecting the airline’s capacity and reliability. Passengers are advised to expect potential further cancellations in the coming days as IndiGo works to implement corrective measures and submit a comprehensive roadmap for recovery, including crew recruitment, aircraft induction, and safety assessments, to the DGCA.