IndiGo, India’s largest airline, cancelled over 2,000 flights in early December 2025 due to a pilot shortage triggered by new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), compounded by poor planning and operational strains.
Core Cause: New Pilot Rest Regulations
The DGCA enforced stricter FDTL norms from November 1, 2025, limiting pilots to two night landings per week and capping consecutive night duties to prevent fatigue. These rules clashed with IndiGo’s high-utilization model, which relies on tight crew rosters and maximum aircraft turns, forcing many pilots into mandatory rest during the winter schedule expansion on October 26. Despite over a year of notice, IndiGo failed to hire enough pilots or adjust rosters, leading to widespread shortages.
Triggering Factors and Domino Effect
An Airbus A320 software advisory caused weekend delays pushing flights past midnight, converting delays into cancellations under rest rules. Winter weather, ground-handling issues at congested airports like Delhi, and high holiday demand amplified the chaos, with on-time performance dropping to 8.5% at major hubs. IndiGo’s 63% market share meant even minor disruptions cascaded nationwide, stranding thousands at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad airports.
Passenger Impact and Airline Response
Over 1,000 flights were axed on December 5 alone, sparking protests, long queues, and unclaimed luggage piles. CEO Pieter Elbers apologized on X, promising normalization by December 10-15 and full recovery by February 2026, with waived fees, refunds, and hotel support. IndiGo operated 1,500 flights on December 6, restoring 95% connectivity after a “network reboot.”
Government and Regulatory Actions
The DGCA issued a show-cause notice to CEO Elbers for lapses in planning and resource management, demanding a response within 24 hours. The Civil Aviation Ministry ordered refunds by 8 PM December 7, baggage returns within two days, and fare caps on domestic routes to curb surges. Temporary DGCA relief allowed six night landings per pilot, easing some pressure.
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