India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a detailed statement outlining the escalating operational disruptions at IndiGo, which has been cancelling 170–200 flights per day since late November—far higher than normal. The situation prompted an urgent review by the Civil Aviation Minister, senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), IndiGo leadership, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
According to the DGCA, IndiGo’s cancellations stem from transitional challenges in implementing Phase-2 of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) CAR, combined with winter season constraints and significant gaps in crew planning. The FDTL regulations—aimed at improving fatigue management—were introduced in two phases, on July 1 and November 1, 2025.
Aviation Minister orders close monitoring
The Civil Aviation Minister has directed:
- AAI to ensure all airport directors monitor the situation and assist stranded passengers.
- DGCA to closely monitor airfares and prevent any price escalation due to flight disruptions.
IndiGo admits planning lapses
During the DGCA review meeting, IndiGo acknowledged:
- Misjudgment in assessing the actual crew requirement under Phase-2 of the FDTL CAR.
- Crew availability constraints, especially for night-time operations—the only slots available.
- Disruptions will continue for the next 2–3 days as part of schedule stabilisation.
- The airline will reduce services starting December 8 to restore stability.
- IndiGo aims to fully normalize operations by February 10, 2026.
The airline has requested temporary exemptions from certain FDTL provisions—specifically para 3.11 (Night Duty definition) and 6.1.4 (operations encroaching into night duty)—for A320 operations until February 10.
Crew shortage details
IndiGo presented the following numbers showing the gap between required and available crew:
- Crew requirement for Airbus fleet jumped significantly after the November FDTL Phase-2 rollout.
- Night-duty share increased sharply, limiting crew deployment further.
Field inspections highlight passenger-handling issues
DGCA teams conducted on-ground inspections at major airports, including Delhi Terminal 1, where the impact has been highest. Findings revealed:
- Inadequate passenger-handling manpower
- Gaps in disruption management
- Need for immediate reinforcement of staff and support services
DGCA issues strict directives
IndiGo must now submit:
- A detailed crew recruitment and aircraft induction roadmap
- A plan for crew training, roster restructuring, and safety risk mitigation
- A mitigation plan for ongoing disruptions
- Fortnightly progress reports on operational improvements
- A formal request specifying required FDTL relaxations for short-term stabilisation
DGCA will continue real-time monitoring of the airline’s operations, passenger handling, and restoration of schedules over the coming week.
