THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 5: India’s largest carrier IndiGo is facing an unprecedented operational meltdown, leaving over 400 flights cancelled on Friday and passengers stranded for days, as pilot-rostering failures and staffing shortages continue to cripple its network.
Chaos unfolded across major airports, where travellers reported delays stretching beyond 12 hours, missing baggage, and a complete lack of communication from the airline.
Many passengers said they were forced to disembark after already boarding because flights were abruptly cancelled, while others protested at terminals demanding clear answers.
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Stranded passengers complained of being left without food, water, or updates, noting that fares on other airlines had doubled as they scrambled for alternative travel options.
Airfares on alternate routes, especially between Mumbai and Delhi, skyrocketed, with some travellers claiming prices had touched nearly ₹60,000 amid the crisis.
The situation has worsened over four consecutive days, with IndiGo’s On Time Performance plunging to 19.7% on Wednesday—down sharply from 35% a day earlier.
The airline, which normally flies around 2,300 services with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft, has conceded that the disruptions stem from planning lapses in rolling out the second phase of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.
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In a briefing to aviation regulator DGCA, IndiGo admitted that more cancellations are expected until December 8, followed by a temporary cut in services. It also requested short-term relaxations in duty-time regulations and indicated that operations may not return to full normalcy until February 10, 2026.
Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, after reviewing the crisis, expressed strong dissatisfaction over IndiGo’s handling of the new FDTL requirements despite having sufficient time to prepare.
