New Delhi/Mumbai/Bengaluru: India’s largest airline, IndiGo, faced another day of widespread disruption on Thursday, cancelling more than 180 flights across three major airports as it struggled to assemble enough cockpit crew under newly enforced pilot duty-time regulations.
According to officials, the bulk of the cancellations were concentrated at the country’s busiest hubs. Mumbai saw 86 flight cancellations—41 arrivals and 45 departures—while Bengaluru recorded 73. Delhi Airport reported 33 cancellations by afternoon, with insiders warning that the final tally could be significantly higher by the end of the day.
On-Time Performance collapses
The staffing crunch has sent IndiGo’s punctuality into freefall. On December 3, the airline’s On-Time Performance (OTP) across six major airports—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata—slumped to just 19.7%, almost halving from the previous day’s already weakened 35%.
Aviation sources say the carrier has been in disarray since the rollout of the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which mandate stricter rest periods and reduced flying hours for pilots. “IndiGo has been dealing with a severe shortage of crew since the new FDTL rules kicked in,” one official said.
DGCA launches review as disruptions widen
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun an inquiry into the escalating delays and cancellations. The regulator has asked IndiGo to provide a detailed explanation for the disruptions and outline its action plan to restore operational stability.
This is the second time in a week that the DGCA has intervened, as cancellations pile up during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Pilot body blames IndiGo for poor planning
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), representing cockpit crew, has squarely blamed IndiGo’s management for the crisis. In a letter sent to the DGCA on Wednesday, the organisation accused the airline of failing to hire adequate staff despite having two years to prepare for the transition to the new duty norms.
FIP said IndiGo had imposed a “hiring freeze” during a period when it should have been expanding its pilot roster, calling the situation “inexplicable.” The body urged the DGCA not only to scrutinise the airline’s schedules but also to consider reallocating unused slots to competitors that can operate them reliably during the peak winter and fog season.
IndiGo operates more flights in India than any other airline, and the cascading cancellations have affected thousands of travellers nationwide. With the holiday rush approaching and the FDTL norms here to stay, aviation experts warn that disruptions may continue unless airlines bolster staffing and adjust schedules to reflect the new regulatory reality.
