IndiGo Grounding: Why India’s Biggest Airline Canceled Thousands Of Flights — And What Comes Next

IndiGo Grounding: The Disruption in Brief

Air travel across India was thrown into turmoil after IndiGo, the country’s largest carrier, canceled more than 2,000 flights beginning last Friday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports nationwide. The airline operates roughly 2,200 flights a day and says the disruption stems from a shortage of available pilots after it failed to fully adapt to new government flight rest and duty rules introduced earlier this year.

What Triggered The Crisis?

The immediate cause was the government’s Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), a set of rules designed to reduce pilot fatigue. The second phase of FDTL came into force on 1 November, and IndiGo was unable to adjust staffing and rostering in time. Disruptions intensified on 2 December with widespread delays and cancellations, and on one day at least 1,000 flights were axed. Media reports put Saturday’s cancellations at about 385 and Sunday’s at more than 600.

Key FDTL Measures

• Weekly rest increase: Mandatory weekly rest for pilots increased from 36 to 48 hours.
• Night flying cap: Night flying that continues into the early hours is capped at 10 hours per pilot.
• Early-morning landings: Pilots are limited to two landings per week between midnight and early morning.
• Fatigue reporting: Operators must submit quarterly pilot fatigue reports to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Responses And Regulatory Action

The government intervened quickly: it granted IndiGo temporary exemptions from some FDTL requirements and ordered a high-level inquiry to determine accountability. IndiGo was exempted until 10 February from the cap on weekly midnight-to-early-morning landings and from certain flight duty time restrictions to relieve immediate staffing pressure. The DGCA also warned the airline of potential regulatory action, saying it had failed to ensure arrangements for reliable operations.

“You have failed in your duty to ensure timely arrangements for conduct of reliable operations,” the DGCA reportedly wrote to IndiGo's CEO.

Industry Reaction And Safety Concerns

Pilot unions and aviation experts blamed poor planning. The Federation of Indian Pilots said the airline adopted a hiring freeze, entered non-poaching understandings, and froze pilot pay despite having a two-year window to prepare. The Airline Pilots Association of India protested government exemptions, arguing the rules exist to safeguard lives.

Customer Impact And Airline Measures

Thousands of passengers were stranded; the government offered train tickets to some affected travelers and capped fares on certain routes to curb opportunistic pricing. The Ministry of Civil Aviation told carriers that journeys between 1,000 km and 1,500 km should be capped at 15,000 rupees (about $167). IndiGo apologised for the “operational crisis,” attributed it to misjudgement and planning gaps, and announced customer support measures including a full waiver of cancellation and rescheduling fees for bookings through 15 December.

Where Things Stand

IndiGo said it expected operations to stabilise between 10 and 15 December. The airline reported progress — increasing daily flights from around 1,500 to more than 1,650 and restoring service to most destinations — but warned it would take several days to fully recover. Other carriers, including Akasa Air and Tata-owned Air India, largely continued operations; both have boosted crew hiring or reallocated staff to absorb demand.

Market Effects

With IndiGo holding a dominant market share, its disruption pushed up fares on some routes and drew accusations of profiteering. Regulators have signalled they are monitoring pricing closely and have the power to cap fares where necessary. Industry data also show a broader trend: domestic fares in India rose about 43% in the first half of 2024 versus 2019, increasing pressure on regulators to act when disruption occurs.

Outlook

Key questions remain: the outcome of the government inquiry, whether IndiGo will change recruiting and rostering practices, and how quickly competitor airlines can add capacity without compromising safety. For travellers, the immediate priorities are getting refunds or rebookings, reaching destinations, and monitoring official updates from the DGCA and airlines.