IndiGo Grounds 1,000+ Flights After New Pilot Rest Rules and Systems 'Reboot'

IndiGo Cancels More Than 1,000 Flights Amid Pilot Rest Rule Changes

More than 1,000 IndiGo flights were canceled on Friday after the carrier struggled to comply with recently implemented pilot rest regulations and carried out a systems and schedule "reboot" that left it short of crew. The disruptions, which began on Tuesday, included the cancellation of every departure from New Delhi Airport, the country’s busiest hub.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, operates roughly 2,300 flights a day and recorded about 118 million passenger arrivals last year. The company said it expects operations to return to normal by Feb. 10 and has apologized repeatedly to affected travelers.

In a video message, CEO Pieter Elbers attributed the cascading cancellations to a coordinated "reboot" of systems and schedules. The airline also cited weather and technical glitches as contributing factors.

Passengers posted videos from airports showing crowds chanting "IndiGo shame! Shame, shame!" according to reports. The carrier is offering assistance to those affected, including waiving cancellation and rebooking fees for travel through Dec. 15 and arranging hotel rooms and meals for disrupted passengers.

Regulatory, Union and Government Response

The operational strain was partly linked to new rules mandating additional rest time for pilots. Those regulations were announced two years ago and took effect last month. Pilot groups criticized IndiGo for inadequate planning: the Indian Pilots Association said other carriers had provisioned pilots properly and that IndiGo’s cancellations were "the direct consequence of IndiGo's prolonged and unorthodox lean manpower strategy."

India's aviation regulator issued a memo that temporarily withdrew one of the pilot rest requirements "in view of the ongoing operational disruptions." C.S. Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, cautioned,

"You cannot compromise safety for commercial interest."

The government has ordered IndiGo to submit an immediate, detailed corrective plan covering crew recruitment, training, roster restructuring, safety-risk assessments and other mitigation measures.

IndiGo said it is working to restore normal service levels and is coordinating with regulators and airport authorities to limit further disruption. The airline urged passengers to check their flight status and contact customer service for rebooking or accommodations.