NEW DELHI—The operational crisis engulfing IndiGo, India’s largest airline, entered its seventh consecutive day, crippling air travel nationwide. On Monday, the airline was forced to cancel over 250 flights from major hubs like Delhi and Bengaluru alone, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and raising critical questions about the airline's preparedness.
The root cause of the chaos lies in a critical pilot shortage exacerbated by the implementation of new, stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which mandate longer rest periods and restrict night operations to enhance safety. While these rules were announced two years ago, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted that IndiGo failed to adequately manage its crew rostering, leading to a cascading effect of delays and cancellations during the busy winter season.
The mounting public outrage has triggered a strong response from the government. The Civil Aviation Minister, Rammohan Naidu, addressed the issue in the Rajya Sabha, blaming the crisis on "problems in [IndiGo's] crew rostering and internal planning system" and warning of "very strict action" against the airline for the large-scale operational failure.
Amid the chaos, the airline confirmed that it has processed massive refunds totaling around ₹827 crore for nearly a million affected bookings. While the Supreme Court declined an urgent plea to intervene, noting the government's decisive action, the crisis remains far from over. IndiGo is now targeting operational stability by December 10th as it works to clear the backlog and manage passenger hardships.