IndiGo cancels over 70 flights amid worsening crew shortage; delays across major airports
Passengers flying out of key airports, including Bengaluru and Mumbai, were left coping with long queues and extended waiting times
PTC Web Desk: IndiGo’s operations faced a major setback on Wednesday as India’s largest airline cancelled more than 70 flights across the country and reported widespread delays, with staffing shortages emerging as the primary challenge, sources said.
Passengers flying out of key airports, including Bengaluru and Mumbai, were left coping with long queues and extended waiting times as the airline struggled to deploy adequate cockpit and cabin crew. The situation, which began deteriorating late Tuesday, escalated further by Wednesday morning, impacting flight schedules nationwide.
In an official statement, IndiGo confirmed the disruptions but cited a combination of reasons behind the operational breakdown.
“Over the past few days, we have experienced unavoidable delays and a few cancellations due to factors such as technical issues, congestion at airports, and operational requirements,” the airline’s spokesperson said.
FDTL Phase 2 norms blamed for crew crunch
Sources, however, highlighted that the latest phase of the updated Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms has intensified the pressure on crew availability.
“Since the implementation of Phase 2 of the FDTL rules, IndiGo has been facing a sharp crew shortage. The impact became more visible on Tuesday and worsened on Wednesday, with multiple flights being cancelled across airports,” a source familiar with the matter said.
Government data further underscored the operational strain. IndiGo’s on-time performance across six major domestic airports fell sharply to 35% on Tuesday. In contrast, Air India recorded 67.2%, Air India Express 79.5%, SpiceJet 82.5%, and Akasa Air 73.2%, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry.
What the updated FDTL rules mean
The new FDTL norms, rolled out following a Delhi High Court order, require:
Increased weekly rest for crew—up to 48 hours
An expanded night-duty window
A reduction in allowed night landings from six to two
Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, had earlier objected to rapid implementation, arguing that the rules would require additional crew strength. Phase 1 came into effect in July, while the more restrictive Phase 2 was enforced from November 1.
IndiGo operates close to 2,100 flights daily, many of which fall under night operations, directly affected by the revised duty-time limits.