India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is currently experiencing a severe bout of operational disruptions, marked by hundreds of flight cancellations daily. On Thursday, over 550 flights were affected, bringing the airline’s punctuality to an all-time low. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA have intensified their scrutiny, holding critical meetings with IndiGo’s management.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has made it clear that IndiGo must not hike airfares amidst these disruptions. He conveyed displeasure over the airline’s preparedness for the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and other regulatory changes, stressing that sufficient lead time should have ensured a smoother transition. The Minister has directed all airport authorities and the DGCA to actively monitor the situation, support affected passengers, and ensure fair pricing.
IndiGo projects that its flight operations will not fully normalize until February 2026, necessitating a curtailment of services starting December 8th. The airline cited challenges in crew rostering and the implementation of new duty hour norms as reasons for the ongoing cancellations. The DGCA has mandated IndiGo to submit a detailed strategic roadmap, including plans for aircraft acquisition, crew recruitment and training, and comprehensive safety risk assessments, to address the systemic issues impacting its operations.