India’s largest airline IndiGo is facing a probe by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after a wave of cancellations and delays triggered chaos at airports across the country. The airline has conveyed to regulators and the civil aviation ministry that it expects to fully stabilise its schedule and restore normal operations only by February 10, 2026, after recalibrating crew rosters and flight plans.
Over the past few days, IndiGo has cancelled hundreds of flights and delayed scores more, with on‑time performance at major metro airports reportedly falling into single digits at the peak of the disruption. The airline attributed the meltdown primarily to crew shortages and planning gaps while transitioning to revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules aimed at improving pilot fatigue management.
DGCA Probe and Temporary Relaxations
DGCA has summoned IndiGo officials to its headquarters to present a detailed account of the disruptions and submit a roadmap to reduce cancellations, improve passenger handling and close crew‑availability gaps. The regulator has granted one‑time relaxations in certain FDTL provisions until February 10, 2026, subject to safety oversight, and directed the airline to file progress reports every 15 days on stabilisation efforts.
According to sector reports, IndiGo has already cancelled more than 1,500 flights since November 1, with a large share directly linked to roster changes under the new norms. To ease congestion and manage crew schedules, the carrier is temporarily cutting some frequencies, while DGCA inspection teams have asked it to deploy more ground staff at busy terminals like Delhi’s Terminal 1 to handle stranded passengers.
Airline Issues Apology, Offers Relief to Passengers
IndiGo has issued a public apology, acknowledging that it “misjudged” the manpower required to comply with the revised duty norms and reassuring customers that stabilising operations is its top priority. The airline has announced measures including full refunds for impacted flights on select dates, free date‑changes on certain routes, and arrangements for meals and hotel stays at key hubs depending on the duration of disruption.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has said the ministry is closely monitoring the situation, asking IndiGo to ensure that fares do not spike abnormally on remaining flights and that affected travellers receive timely assistance. Passengers have been advised to check real‑time flight status before travelling to airports and to use airline apps or customer‑care channels for rebooking options when cancellations occur.
