**IndiGo Acknowledges Misjudgment in Flight Duty Time Regulations**
IndiGo has recognized to the aviation regulator that it “misjudged” the operational effects of India’s new flight duty time limitations (FDTL) norms. This admission comes after the airline faced the cancellation of nearly 200 flights daily in recent days, primarily due to significant pilot and crew shortages, among other issues.
In a statement released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday, IndiGo informed the regulator that planning deficiencies have contributed to its ongoing operational disruptions. The airline has pledged to implement corrective measures, aiming for full operational stabilization by February 10, 2026. Until that date, India’s largest airline has requested exemptions from certain provisions of the FDTL norms, which are designed to reform duty schedules, night-landing plans, and weekly rest charts.
To mitigate further disruptions, IndiGo plans to reduce its daily flight operations starting December 8. The DGCA reported that the airline has been averaging 170-200 cancellations per day since late November, significantly exceeding normal levels.
This situation has led to chaotic scenes at airports across the country, with IndiGo struggling to manage frustrated passengers. Protests erupted at various terminals, and incidents of violence were reported in Kolkata, necessitating intervention from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Bengaluru and Mumbai.
The turmoil follows weeks of escalating disruptions. Since November 1, when the second phase of the new FDTL norms was implemented, IndiGo has canceled over 1,550 flights, including 1,232 in November alone, with 755 cancellations attributed to crew shortages resulting from the revised crew rostering rules. These cancellations and delays have severely impacted the airline’s on-time performance (OTP), which plummeted from over 87% at the end of October to 67.7% in November, and further down to 35% on December 2 and 19.7% on December 3, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This indicates that only one in five of the airline’s flights reached their destinations on time.
IndiGo’s shares fell by 2.8% to close at ₹5,437.6 on Thursday, while the BSE Sensex saw a slight increase of 0.2%.
In response to the crisis, IndiGo’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, urged employees to unite and help the airline navigate what is likely its most significant operational challenge to date. “We have faced tough moments before, but we turned challenges into triumphs, proving our resilience, strength, and unity,” Elbers stated in a message to staff. “This moment will be no different… This is the time for all of us to come together, prove our mettle once again, and showcase what IndiGo truly stands for.”
**FAQ**
**What are the reasons behind IndiGo’s recent flight cancellations?**
IndiGo’s recent flight cancellations are primarily due to significant pilot and crew shortages, exacerbated by the implementation of new flight duty time limitations (FDTL) norms, which have disrupted crew rostering and scheduling.
