Introduction: Passengers Face Massive Disruptions

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, is experiencing one of the most severe operational disruptions in its history, with hundreds of flights across key airports continuing to be cancelled or delayed. For several days, passengers at airports in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other cities faced long lineups, unanswered inquiries, and hours of waiting, which frequently resulted in last-minute cancellation announcements.

The airline, which regularly operates over 2,000 flights each day, is suddenly fighting to stay on schedule, raising questions about what triggered the massive upheaval and why it escalated so quickly.

What Triggered the Crisis?

The airline initially cited a combination of winter delays, technological challenges, and operating limitations. However, aviation insiders say the primary reason is due to new crew rest limits imposed under Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) regulations.

These guidelines, intended to prevent pilot tiredness, considerably increased mandated rest hours for flight crew. While the regulation’s objective is to ensure safety, its rapid implementation appears to have taken IndiGo off guard.

Understanding the New FDTL Rules

The revised rules require:

• 48 hours of weekly rest instead of 36
• A longer restricted night duty window
• A cap on night-time flying hours
• Fewer night-time landings per pilot

As a result, a big proportion of IndiGo’s pilots began obligatory rest intervals just as winter flight schedules were increasing. What appeared to be a routine operational modification resulted in aircraft being grounded due to a lack of pilots ready to operate them.

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How the Crisis Escalated

IndiGo also experienced delays as a result of a software advisory affecting Airbus A320 aircraft, which extended numerous flights past midnight, automatically triggering additional crew rest requirements. What began as delays quickly escalated into cancellations, causing widespread disruptions across the network.

magnified instantaneously. With over 2,200 flights per day, even minor disruptions impact thousands of people. In this situation, the scale made rehabilitation extremely challenging.

Major Airports Hit Hard

Within just a few days:

• Delhi saw over 200 cancellations
• Bengaluru recorded more than 100
• Hyderabad also reported dozens of cancellations

Across India, more than 600 flights were cancelled within 48 hours – an unprecedented number even for a market as large as India’s.

Regulator Steps In

Recognising the mounting issue, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) intervened and reversed a critical phrase in the FDTL guidelines. The condition prohibited pilots from swapping weekly rest for leave, drastically limiting IndiGo’s rostering options.

With the restriction temporarily eased, IndiGo is anticipated to acquire greater crew freedom and maybe restore some of its offerings in the following weeks. This step also indicates that officials recognize how significantly the new restrictions have harmed operations.

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Why Pilots Are Blaming Management

Despite the regulatory changes, pilot unions allege that the airline failed to prepare adequately. They argue that IndiGo:

• Froze hiring even though the new rules were announced long ago
• Operated with minimal staff to control costs
• Over-scheduled flights without ensuring crew availability

Pilot organizations also claim that other airlines applied the same regulations without causing as widespread turmoil, indicating superior planning on their behalf.

Some say IndiGo overestimated the operational complexity of the new laws, while others claim the airline expanded too quickly without adequately reinforcing its crew.

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Passenger Experience: Long Waits and No Clarity

Passengers have found the situation exceedingly aggravating. Many people have reported being told to wait for hours without any sort of explanation. Some people stayed the entire night inside terminals, just to find out that their flights had been cancelled.

Families, senior travelers, and students going for exams or interviews have been among the hardest hit. Complaints regarding food arrangements, lodging availability, and lack of information have flooded social media sites in recent days.

How Long Before It Improves?

IndiGo has requested time until February 10, 2026 to stabilise its operations. The airline is already cutting schedules temporarily to control further disruptions and has advised passengers to:

• Check flight status before travelling
• Prefer refundable or flexible bookings
• Carry essentials in case of delays

While some flights may operate normally, the overall recovery may take weeks, especially given the scale of IndiGo’s operations compared to other Indian carriers.

A Wake-Up Call for the Aviation Industry

The scenario has revealed a more serious issue: fast expansion and high-frequency schedules are no longer viable without investment in crew capacity. As India’s passenger volume grows, airlines will need to rethink operational planning, pilot training, fatigue management, and employment practices.

The situation also presents concerns for regulators – if safety regulations are required, airlines must be given realistic deadlines and support to ensure their successful implementation.

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Conclusion: Turbulence Ahead, But Lessons to Learn

IndiGo’s continual delays demonstrate how fragile aviation operations can be, particularly when safety standards meet with peak travel seasons. The situation may gradually subside following regulatory involvement, but long-term stability will be determined by how swiftly IndiGo increases staffing and reorganizes flight schedules.

For the time being, the skies over India remain tumultuous, and passengers are expected to face further disruptions until the airline properly adjusts its operations to the new guidelines.

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