India’s largest airline, IndiGo, plunged into a severe operational crisis on Wednesday as more than 200 flights were cancelled across the country, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The disruption came shortly after the DGCA fully implemented the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, intended to enhance pilot safety but significantly impacting airline crew availability.
The revised rules mandate longer rest periods for pilots, stricter limits on night-time flying, and tighter duty-hour ceilings. With IndiGo operating India’s largest domestic network, these changes caused a sudden rostering imbalance, triggering widespread cancellations and delays. Compounding the crisis were technical issues, heavy airport congestion, and adverse weather conditions, further disrupting operations.
The DGCA has sought an urgent report from IndiGo, demanding clarity on crew management, scheduling challenges, and the airline’s plan to stabilize operations. Meanwhile, IndiGo has acknowledged the turbulence and announced “calibrated adjustments” over the next 48 hours to restore punctuality and ease network pressure.
Chaotic scenes at major airports and rising passenger complaints highlight the growing impact of the regulatory change—underscoring the need for airlines to swiftly realign their staffing and scheduling strategies under the new norms.