IndiGo flight operations in deep turbulence: All departure flights from Delhi's IGI airport cancelled till midnight
PTC Web Desk: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, remained stuck in operational turmoil for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, leaving thousands of travellers facing severe disruptions across major airports. The situation worsened at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, where the airport authorities confirmed that 135 departures and 90 arrivals of IndiGo were cancelled through the day, making it the hardest-hit aviation hub.
In the latest decision, IndiGo today cancelled all its departure flights from Delhi's airport till midnight.
Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports also reported massive cancellations. Bengaluru saw 52 incoming and 50 outgoing flights scrapped, while 92 IndiGo services were cancelled in Hyderabad alone, adding to the nationwide travel breakdown.
The disruption, which has now crossed 1,000 cancellations in four days, began earlier this week when delays linked to an Airbus A320 software advisory pushed multiple flights into late-night hours. The impact snowballed once the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules kicked in, rules designed to reduce pilot fatigue but which also substantially cut the number of hours pilots can operate, especially at night.
IndiGo was already dealing with a shortage of pilots, leading to around 25 daily cancellations even before the crisis. The new norms, which mandate longer rest periods and restrict consecutive night duties, left a large section of crew grounded when delayed flights crossed midnight. This resulted in a rapid collapse of schedules, with aircraft ready to fly but no crew to operate them.
The winter schedule, which came into effect from October 26 and increased flight frequencies, further aggravated the strain on IndiGo’s network.
Cancellations pile up across the country
Over the last two days alone, IndiGo has cancelled more than 800 flights, including over 400 on Thursday and 150-plus on Wednesday. Passengers at several airports reported sudden cancellations, inadequate communication and limited rebooking options due to IndiGo’s dominant market presence.
The airline has admitted to “planning gaps” and said it underestimated the crew requirements needed after the FDTL rules were upheld by the courts.
What the new FDTL rules require
The updated duty-time limits that are disrupting airline rosters include:
48 hours of mandatory weekly rest (up from 36 hours)
Maximum of two night landings per pilot per week
Only two consecutive night duties permitted
Limit of 8 flight hours per day for schedules overlapping the night window
Because IndiGo runs a high-frequency network with many early-morning and late-night flights, the airline has been disproportionately affected.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun inspections and reported inadequate crowd-handling facilities at several airports as frustrated passengers gathered in large numbers.
IndiGo has requested relaxation on night-duty regulations but has acknowledged that cancellations will persist as it restructures its operations. The airline has apologised to passengers and advised them to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
More turbulence expected
With IndiGo accounting for the largest share of India’s domestic aviation market, the widespread cancellations have limited alternative travel choices for flyers. The airline has warned that it may take several more days before operations stabilise, meaning daily cancellations are likely to remain far higher than usual.
- With inputs from agencies
