Scores of IndiGo flights were delayed at various airports, as the carrier struggled to get the crew for operating its flights, sources said.
New Delhi: IndiGo passengers faced major inconvenience on Wednesday as more than 200 flights were cancelled and over 150 delayed across multiple airports, primarily due to a shortage of crew, including pilots, following the implementation of a new roster system.
The airline attributed the disruptions to a combination of technical and operational reasons and announced “calibrated schedule adjustments” for the next 48 hours to stabilise operations. These adjustments will include further cancellations and rescheduling.
Chaos was reported at several airports as disruptions that began late on Tuesday peaked on Wednesday. Passengers posted videos and images showing long delays and cancellations, leading to overcrowding and confusion.
Sources said the airline has been experiencing consistent flight delays for the past one month — partly due to the revised crew rest and duty norms (FDTL) that came into effect from November 1 limit the number of night landings and mandate longer weekly rest periods, resulting in crew shortages.
IndiGo, which operates around 2,300 daily domestic and international flights, was already facing a pilot shortage. The new norms, 48-hour weekly rest, extended night hours, and a cap of two night landings instead of six, were initially opposed by IndiGo and Air India but were implemented following directives from the Delhi High Court.
Additionally, the new regulations impose limits on duty and flight time, mandate weekly rest periods, and require airlines to submit quarterly fatigue-management reports to the DGCA.
While the first phase of the FDTL norms was introduced in July, the second phase, restricting night landings, took effect from November 1. The norms were originally scheduled for March 2024, but airlines sought phased implementation due to additional crew requirements.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it is investigating the situation and evaluating measures, in coordination with IndiGo, to minimise passenger inconvenience. The regulator has asked the airline to appear before DGCA headquarters and present the facts leading to the disruptions along with a mitigation plan.
The airline added that affected passengers are being offered alternative travel arrangements or refunds as applicable. It also urged travellers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
According to DGCA data, IndiGo reported 1,232 cancellations in November:
• 755 due to crew/FDTL constraints
• 92 due to ATC system failures
• 258 due to airport or airspace restrictions
• 127 due to other reasons
IndiGo’s On-Time Performance (OTP) fell to 67.70 per cent in November, down from 84.1 per cent in October. Key contributors to delays in November included ATC issues (16 per cent), crew-related operational challenges (6 per cent), airport facility constraints (3 per cent), and others (8 per cent).
As corrective measures, DGCA said IndiGo is strengthening crew planning and rostering while complying with FDTL norms, enhancing coordination with ATC and airports to manage capacity constraints, and improving turnaround and disruption-management processes.
Hyderabad flights cancelled
Dec. 2 Dec. 3
Total Departures cancelled 9 13
Total Arrivals cancelled 5 18
