IndiGo blames a mix of factors for cancellations, centered on FDTL

(INDIA) IndiGo has blamed a “combination of factors” for more than 2,100 flight cancellations across India, telling the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that its failure to adapt in time to new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, which took effect on November 1, 2025, was the central cause of the disruption that has hit passengers, airports and schedules nationwide.

In a detailed response to show-cause notices issued by the regulator, the airline said the cancellations were driven mainly by challenges in complying with the stricter pilot rest and duty rules, but added that technology problems, seasonal schedule realignment, airport congestion, and bad weather had all added pressure to its operations. The DGCA, which oversees civil aviation safety and standards in India and publishes official circulars on its website at Directorate General of Civil Aviation, had asked IndiGo’s top leadership to explain why so many flights were suddenly dropped from its network.

Regulator’s assessment: preparation, not the rules

According to the DGCA, IndiGo’s main shortcoming was not the rules themselves but the airline’s lack of timely preparation for the FDTL changeover. The new Flight Duty Time Limitations, which cap how long pilots can be on duty and how much rest they must receive between trips, were announced well before the November rollout.

The DGCA says the airline failed to plan crew rosters, reserves and buffers in a way that would keep its busy schedule running once the stricter rest rules kicked in.

Scale and operational impact

The disruption has quickly become one of the most visible operational crises for a major Indian carrier in recent years.

• As of December 5, 2025, IndiGo had cancelled more than 2,100 flights across its domestic network, stranding and delaying tens of thousands of passengers.
• The airline’s on-time performance dropped from 84.1% in October to 67.7% in November, and slid further in early December, according to data shared with the regulator.
• VisaVerge.com reports that such a sharp fall in punctuality over a short period is usually linked to deep problems with crew planning and schedule reliability.

IndiGo’s immediate response and short-term plan

IndiGo has acknowledged the chaos and issued public apologies while trying to show regulators and travelers that it has a short-term plan to restore normal operations.

• Temporary schedule adjustments: trimming some flights so remaining operations can run with crews who meet the FDTL.
• Stabilisation timeline: the airline told the DGCA it expects visible improvement by December 10, 2025, when it aims to have a more reliable timetable and fewer last-minute cancellations.

Regulatory action and deadlines

The DGCA’s response has been unusually direct.

• The regulator issued show-cause notices to IndiGo and personally to CEO Pieter Elbers and the carrier’s accountable manager.
• IndiGo was demanded to provide written explanations within 24 hours; after requesting more time, it was granted an additional 24 hours.
• The DGCA has made clear it expects solid answers on why crew planning was not adjusted earlier and said officials will weigh possible enforcement action after reviewing IndiGo’s full explanation.

“IndiGo should have adjusted crew numbers and rosters well in advance of November 1,” the DGCA’s position states, given that the FDTL rules and their likely impact were known.

Criticism from pilot groups

Pilot organizations have pointed to deeper, structural issues beyond the rule change.

• The Federation of Indian Pilots criticized IndiGo’s “years of lean manpower planning” and delayed hiring of new pilots.
• From the union’s perspective, the FDTL rules only exposed an already thin staffing model that left little room for sickness, training needs, or extra rest.
• When the rules demanded more rest, the limited crew pool could no longer support IndiGo’s dense schedule.

IndiGo’s broader explanation of causes

While accepting FDTL compliance is central to the disruption, IndiGo listed several operational factors that compounded the problem:

• Technology issues: a software patch affecting some Airbus A320 aircraft, requiring short-notice changes and extra maintenance time.
• Seasonal schedule realignment: regular reshaping of routes and timings during seasonal transitions that coincided with the FDTL switch.
• Airport congestion: India’s busiest airports operating at or near capacity during peak hours.
• Adverse weather: storms and poor visibility that amplified delays and forced crew “time outs” under the stricter rules.

These combined pressures, the airline argues, made the transition more difficult than it might otherwise have been.

Why congestion and weather aren’t a full defence

Regulators note that while weather and congestion are common industry challenges, airlines are expected to build robust systems to handle such shocks without mass cancellations.

• The DGCA emphasizes that other Indian carriers did not report a similar level of meltdown, strengthening the view this was largely an IndiGo-specific planning failure.
• Small delays at congested airports can quickly cascade when spare aircraft and crews are limited and stricter rest limits force more crew to become unavailable.

Passenger impact

For travelers, technical and regulatory explanations offer little comfort.

• Many passengers were forced to buy expensive last-minute tickets on other airlines, delay work trips, or miss family events.
• Social media shows long queues at IndiGo service counters, with customers seeking refunds, rebookings, or clearer information on when normal operations will resume.

Broader industry implications

Industry observers say the episode could reshape how Indian carriers think about staffing, safety rules and operational resilience.

• Running tight operations saves costs but reduces buffer for safety-driven rest limits.
• Carriers may need to:
  • hire more pilots,
  • widen rest buffers, or
  • slow growth plans to ensure reliability.

VisaVerge.com’s analysis notes regulators worldwide treat FDTL compliance as non-negotiable; repeated breaches or mass disruptions tied to rest rules can invite stronger oversight.

Key timeline and data

Takeaway and possible outcomes

IndiGo is attempting to fix the immediate situation and restore public confidence. Its commitment to stabilise by December 10 will be closely watched by the DGCA and affected passengers.

If cancellations continue at the current pace, the regulator could move beyond show-cause notices toward penalties or tighter monitoring. IndiGo’s admission that a “combination of crew rest rule compliance challenges, technical problems, schedule changes, airport congestion, and weather” caused the crisis gives the DGCA clear grounds to review the airline’s long-term planning practices.

How forcefully the regulator responds will signal to the Indian aviation market the costs of failing to prepare for safety-driven rule changes like FDTL, and will influence the balance between aggressive growth and reliable, passenger-focused operations.