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IndiGo Meltdown: Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled in Days, Fares Skyrocket; DGCA Eases Pilot Duty Norms Amid Growing Crisis
Moneylife Digital Team 05 December 2025
Consumer Interest
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, plunged into a deepening operational crisis on Friday, cancelling around 500 flights in Delhi alone and more than 1,000 flights across its network in recent days, triggering widespread chaos at airports nationwide. The mass cancellations forced the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) to issue an emergency relaxation of pilot duty rules, even as airfares on several major routes surged to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, according to reports, some carriers, including Air India, have cancelled flights from Pune airport due to a bay shortage caused by IndiGo's grounded planes. IndiGo's grounded planes are occupying most bays, forcing Air India, Alaska Air and others to cancel flights from the city. 
 
Delhi Airport was the worst hit, announcing that all IndiGo domestic departures scheduled for 5 December 2025 were cancelled until midnight, while operations for other carriers continued as normal. 
 
 
The cancellations led to long queues, extended delays and thousands of stranded passengers, many of whom reported that alternative flights on other airlines were being sold at exorbitant rates.
 
As capacity tightened instantly, fares skyrocketed across major routes. A Delhi–Bengaluru one-stop Air India flight touched Rs102,000, while Akasa Air priced the same route at Rs39,000. Delhi–Mumbai fares climbed to Rs60,000, Chennai–Delhi tickets on Air India Express rose to Rs41,000, and SpiceJet quoted Rs69,000. Routes to and from Hyderabad also saw dramatic hikes, with one-stop fares jumping above Rs80,000 on some airlines.
 
The crisis, now in its fourth consecutive day, stems from severe crew shortages linked to the implementation of revised flight duty time limitations (FDTL) designed to reduce pilot fatigue. IndiGo admitted that it had underestimated crew requirements under the new norms, resulting in planning gaps and a shortage of available pilots. Seasonal winter conditions added further strain.
 
 
In an attempt to stabilise operations, the DGCA withdrew a crucial provision in the updated FDTL rules that had barred airlines from substituting weekly rest with leave. The regulator says the rule change was necessary 'in view of the ongoing operational disruptions', and announced that the clause — introduced to address pilot fatigue — was being relaxed with immediate effect.
 
The disruption reverberated beyond airports and into Parliament, where opposition members accused IndiGo of “monopolistic practices” and criticised the government for “regulatory laxity”. Meanwhile, the Union ministry of civil aviation stepped up oversight and held an emergency review meeting chaired by civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Senior officials from the Ministry, the Airports Authority of India and the DGCA were present.
 
According to officials, the Minister expressed 'clear displeasure' over IndiGo’s handling of the crisis, noting that the airline had ample time to prepare for the transition to the new rules. He directed IndiGo to urgently normalise operations, avoid airfare spikes, and proactively inform passengers of any likely cancellations. The airline was also instructed to ensure that stranded travellers receive hotel accommodation and other necessary support.
 
IndiGo told the government that the disruptions may continue for another two to three days, and that it would temporarily reduce flight frequency from 8 December 2025 to aid stabilisation. The airline has sought temporary relaxation of certain FDTL rules for its A320 fleet until February 2026, assuring the DGCA that full operational restoration would be achieved by that time.
 
 
Delhi Airport, meanwhile, says its ground teams are 'working diligently with all partners to mitigate the disruption', and urged passengers to check flight status before heading to the terminal.
 
Both Delhi and Chennai Airports announced that all domestic flights of IndiGo will remain cancelled till midnight of 5 December 2025.
 
 
With more than 1,232 cancellations recorded last month and hundreds more this week, IndiGo is facing one of the largest operational breakdowns in its history — one that has not only disrupted air travel across India but also prompted rare regulatory intervention at the highest levels.
 
Comments
adityag
2 months ago
Regulators in India are useless. DGCA bent backwards to allow Indigo till February. Typical mindset -- spare the big players, go after the lowest hanging fruits and the small players. This medieval mentality is consistent across all spheres of Indian regulatory system. And who are the losers? The common man who wanted MORE regulation. The joke is on us.
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