Why IndiGo Flights Are Being Cancelled Across India

Major Disruptions Across Airports: IndiGo passengers across India are facing large-scale cancellations and delays as the airline struggles to manage its schedule. Several metro airports reported long queues, stranded travelers and reduced on-time performance.

New Pilot Duty Rules Trigger Crisis: Recently enforced DGCA Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms increased mandatory rest hours for pilots and restricted night operations. These stricter rules reduced available flying hours and sharply cut IndiGo’s crew capacity.

Pilot & Crew Shortage: IndiGo did not have enough trained pilots and crew to meet the new regulatory requirements. This mismatch between crew availability and the published flight schedule led to mass cancellations.

Operational Backlog: The situation was worsened by winter traffic, weather disruptions, and growing congestion at major airports. The airline admitted to internal planning gaps and said the impact has accumulated over weeks.

Impact on Passengers: Over the past few days, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, with some days crossing the 400–500 mark. Many passengers reported last-minute alerts, long waiting hours and difficulty finding rebookings.

What IndiGo Says: The airline has started trimming its schedule and realigning crew rosters. It has also sought temporary regulatory relief and expects gradual stabilization as adjustments take effect.

The disruption is expected to continue for a short period until flight schedules and crew availability fully match.