Yes — the disruption at IndiGo has entered a fifth straight day. More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled or delayed nationwide, with fresh chaos reported at Pune and Ahmedabad airports, regulatory exemptions, a public apology from the airline’s CEO, and airfares soaring.
Key Takeaways
- Scale and spread of chaos: On December 5 and 6, IndiGo cancelled over 1,000 flights, affecting major hubs — including Pune and Ahmedabad — stranding thousands of travellers.
- Why this happened: The airline struggled to comply with new crew rest and duty-time rules (FDTL) issued by DGCA — misjudged staffing needs, flawed roster planning, and operational stress triggered the meltdown.
- Response & relief attempts: IndiGo’s CEO publicly apologized and promised a phased recovery between December 10–15. The airline offered full waivers, automatic refunds, free reschedules, and temporary regulatory exemptions to ease strain.
- Prices and pain for passengers: Airfares erupted — some tickets reportedly cost up to six times their normal rates. Government has now issued directives to enforce fare caps.
What’s Happening Now: Day 5 Unfolds
Flight Cancellations Still Rolling
- Even on Day 5 of the disruption, hundreds of flights remain cancelled or delayed. Pune has recorded 42 cancellations and Ahmedabad is reporting major disruptions.
- At major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai — the ripple effects continue, affecting connections and triggering long delays.
What Went Wrong: Regulatory Change + Poor Planning
This mess stems largely from new rules by the DGCA meant to ensure pilot safety. They include:
- Increased mandatory weekly rest hours for pilots.
- Limits on night-time landings per pilot.
- Stricter duty-time norms under the FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) framework.
IndiGo appears to have miscalculated how many pilots and rest-compliant rosters it would need. The carrier’s high-frequency, tight-turnaround model cracked under the new norms.
Some technical issues and winter-season congestion at airports added to the pressure.
Corporate Accountability: CEO Apology and Government Probe
- Pieter Elbers, IndiGo’s CEO, issued a public apology and called December 5 the “most severely impacted day,” admitting the company’s “misjudgement and planning gaps.”
- The airline said refunds will be processed automatically, cancellation and rescheduling fees waived for bookings from December 5–15.
- Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA have launched a high-level probe into the crisis and rolled back some of the new restrictions — granting temporary exemptions to help stabilize operations.
The Toll: Passengers, Prices, Public Trust
Stranded Travellers, Frustration at Airports
Long queues at check-in desks. Confused passengers. No clear communication. Many reported flights cancelled only after arriving at the airport.
Some shared on forums and Reddit how they waited hours only to be told “your flight is cancelled” — no assistance, no alternative flights, no prior warning.
Airfares Surge — Sometimes Six-Fold
Last-minute tickets now sell for 2–6× the normal rate. On key routes, fares jumped dramatically — forcing travellers to consider trains or alternate airlines.
The price spike triggered government action: a directive mandating fare caps until the situation stabilizes.
Political & Regulatory Fallout
There’s outrage over the lack of foresight by IndiGo. Opposition politicians are calling the disruptions a failure of oversight.
DGCA’s temporary rollback of key safety rules to help IndiGo — a controversial move. Pilot unions warn it undermines safety intent.
What Could Happen Next: Short-Term Outlook
| Timeline | What to Watch | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Next 48–72 hours | Reduction in cancellations, regular updates from IndiGo, DGCA oversight | Partial stabilization; still chaotic at smaller airports |
| By Dec 10–15 | IndiGo aims to resume most flights; schedule normalisation | Gradual return of service — but delays may persist |
| Gov response | Investigation results, possible regulatory actions, fare controls | Fines or stricter compliance checks; travel demand may dip short-term |
| Holiday demand surge | Christmas / New Year season bookings may spike | Risk of another round of fare surges or capacity crunch |
What Travellers Should Do Now
- Check flight status constantly via airline website or official apps. Avoid leaving for airport until confirmed.
- Use refunds/reschedule options — IndiGo has waived fees for bookings between Dec 5–15.
- Consider alternate transport or airlines — given fare surges and unpredictability, trains or other carriers may offer better reliability.
- Book with flexibility in mind — avoid rigid itineraries; expect delays or last-minute changes.
FAQ
A: Because the new crew-rest/duty-time rules (FDTL) made their old high-frequency roster system unsustainable. IndiGo underestimated how many pilots they needed and didn’t rework schedules properly.
A: Yes — IndiGo has waived cancellation/reschedule fees for bookings from Dec 5-15 and is automatically issuing refunds or free rebooking.
A: The airline expects major improvement between December 10–15. Some regular services may resume earlier. But smaller airports and less-popular routes might face delays longer.
