Passengers at major hubs such as Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru faced long lines, confusion, and increasing delays as the budget airline dealt with what it termed a “multitude of unforeseen operational challenges.” These challenges included minor technical issues, weather-related constraints, and adjustments connected to the winter schedule.
However, industry analysts and subsequent official statements pointed to the primary cause being the implementation of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) introduced in January 2024, which IndiGo struggled to comply with. Although aimed at preventing crew fatigue by regulating pilot working hours, the airline did not fully apply these norms.
Also read | IndiGo reports approximately 190 flight cancellations across Delhi and Mumbai today
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) later linked the extensive cancellations to IndiGo’s “misjudgment and gap in planning” regarding the enforcement of the rules.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi issued an advisory indicating that operations were gradually improving. “We are pleased to inform that Indigo flight operations are now steadily resuming and returning to normalcy following the brief disruption. Please verify the status of your booking and flight before leaving home,” the airport stated.
Passenger Advisory issued at 10:15 Hours#DelhiAirport #PassengerAdvisory #DELAdvisory pic.twitter.com/jSLOf0Aifl
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) December 6, 2025
In a video message to customers, IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers recognized the magnitude of the crisis and cautioned that recovery would take several days. “December 5 was the most severely affected day, with cancellations exceeding 1,000. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers. It will take some time to achieve a full return to normalcy, which we expect between December 10–15,” he stated.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu firmly assigned responsibility to IndiGo for failing to manage crew deployment under the new FDTL regulations. He noted that the ministry had engaged with airlines for months in anticipation of the regulatory change and that other carriers, such as Air India and SpiceJet, had adapted without significant disruption.
Also read | IndiGo meltdown: SpiceJet comes to the rescue with 30 emergency flights from Delhi and Mumbai
Speaking with ANI, Naidu mentioned that the government had temporarily relaxed compliance requirements for IndiGo to help restore normal operations and assist stranded passengers. “However, what unfolded is due to mismanagement by IndiGo regarding its crew. We have allowed certain exceptions concerning FDTL norms for IndiGo to ensure a return to normalcy,” he added.
As flights start to return to their schedules, authorities have recommended that passengers check for updates before heading to airports, as residual delays may persist over the weekend.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
First Published: Dec 6, 2025 11:15 AM IST
