IndiGo cancels over 200 flights in Delhi and Mumbai despite temporary regulatory relief
PTC Web Desk: Domestic airline IndiGo continued to face major operational setbacks on Saturday, cancelling more than 200 flights at Delhi and Mumbai airports, a day after securing temporary relaxations in the second phase of the court-mandated flight duty and rest rules for pilots, sources said.
According to airport sources, Mumbai saw 109 cancellations, including 51 arrivals and 58 departures , while Delhi reported 106 cancellations, comprising 54 departures and 52 arrivals. This comes on the heels of the airline grounding over 1,000 flights on Friday, marking one of the worst disruptions in its operational history.
After maintaining silence for three days, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers issued a video apology on Friday, acknowledging the “significant inconvenience” faced by passengers. He added that the airline anticipated “fewer than 1,000 cancellations” on Saturday.
On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted interim relief to IndiGo, part-owned by Rahul Bhatia, by rolling back the extended “night duty window” from 12 am–6 am to the earlier 12 am–5 am. The regulator also allowed pilots to perform up to six night landings, compared to the recently imposed limit of two. However, the move has triggered a strong backlash.
The Airlines’ Pilots Association (ALPA) India said it “strongly objects” to DGCA’s “selective and unsafe exemptions,” claiming the relaxations compromise safety and “have placed millions of passengers at heightened risk.”
The association also criticised the Civil Aviation Ministry’s decision to pause the implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms after a meeting on December 5 with pilot unions.
In a statement, ALPA India said: “This step contradicts the court’s directions, which require fatigue-mitigation rules based on aviation science. Delaying the revised norms undermines judicial authority and exposes both crew and passengers to unnecessary risk.”
The revised FDTL regulations, increasing weekly rest to 48 hours, extending night duty hours, and limiting night landings, were introduced in January 2024. Implementation was originally scheduled for March 2024, but airlines sought more time citing crew shortages.
Despite resistance from carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, the DGCA implemented the rules in phases after directions from the Delhi High Court.
- With inputs from agencies
