IndiGo Crisis: Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled, Chaos at Airports Across India

What Happened?

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has cancelled more than 1,000 flights in the past few days, creating massive disruption at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities. Passengers are facing long delays, overcrowding and last-minute cancellations.

Why Did the Crisis Escalate?

IndiGo initially blamed:

Weather delays

Winter schedule changes

Technical issues

Airport runway congestion

But the real trigger was the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules.

Government’s New FDTL Rule Impact

The new aviation safety regulation mandates:

Longer rest periods for pilots

Strict flying-hour limits

No adjusting rest into “off days”

Since IndiGo already had a limited number of available pilots, these rules caused major staffing shortages — grounding dozens of flights.

Pilot Associations React

Pilot unions accused IndiGo of mismanagement, claiming:

The airline knew about new rules months earlier

Yet made no hiring preparations

Overworked pilots leading to burnout

Crisis being used to pressure regulators

Some experts even suggest IndiGo is intentionally amplifying the crisis to force policy relaxation.

Why Is IndiGo Hit the Hardest?

IndiGo operates the largest daily flight network in India

Any operational failure results in massive nationwide ripple effects

The volume of cancellations has turned busy airports into chaotic waiting zones

Impact on Passengers

Hours-long queues

Expensive last-minute ticket rebooking

Lack of timely airline communication

Airport crowding similar to railway stations

Hundreds of people sleeping on airport floors

When Will the Situation Normalize?

Government officials estimate operations may fully stabilize by 10 February 2026, depending on pilot hiring, schedule restructuring and operational reforms.