IndiGo targets network stability by Dec 10 as flight ops rise to 1,650, OTP hits 75%

The carrier added that it had cancelled around 650 flights on December 7, and would be operating 1,650 of its total 2,300 daily flights that day.

IndiGo, in another statement on Sunday, said it is seeing “significant and sustained” improvement in its operations after days of large-scale flight cancellations. It stated that network stability is likely to be restored by December 10, earlier than its previously communicated timeline of December 10-15.

In its official statement released Sunday afternoon, the airline said cancellations had reduced and on-time performance had improved substantially as efforts continued to normalise services. It added that cancellations were now being made earlier in the day, enabling more timely communication with passengers.

According to IndiGo, the airline is on track to operate over 1,650 flights on Sunday (December 7), up from around 1,500 a day earlier, with on-time performance improving to 75 percent from about 30 percent on December 6. The carrier added that it had cancelled around 650 flights on Sunday, and would be operating 1,650 of its total 2,300 daily flights that day.

IndiGo said its refund and baggage support processes were running “in full action” for both direct and indirect bookings. The airline urged passengers to check their latest flight status on its website before heading to the airport and to use its refund portal or customer support channels for assistance.

The carrier said it is “making very significant progress” in restoring its flight schedules and strengthening customer support systems, noting that its teams were working “relentlessly” to stabilise operations.

“We deeply regret the immense inconvenience this has caused and extend our heartfelt apologies to all our customers,” an IndiGo spokesperson said, adding that the airline remains grateful for the patience of travellers and the efforts of its employees and partners.

Earlier the same day, the airline issued a statement saying that the Board of InterGlobe Aviation had set up a Crisis Management Group (CMG), which has been meeting regularly to oversee the response and support affected passengers, including ensuring timely refunds and waiving cancellation or rescheduling charges.

The airline has blamed the disruptions on inadequate preparation for the newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which govern pilot duty hours and rest periods. Its failure to realign crew rosters to meet the new rules, combined with an existing pilot shortage, led to widespread delays and cancellations, with punctuality across its 2,300 daily flights dropping sharply.

Meanwhile, regulatory pressure has mounted as the DGCA issued show-cause notices to CEO Pieter Elbers and COO Isidro Porqueras on Saturday, citing “significant lapses in planning and resource management” and demanding explanations within 24 hours.

To ease passenger hardships, the Centre has temporarily suspended FDTL norms and directed IndiGo to issue automatic refunds, while Indian Railways announced 89 special trains over the next three days from major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Patna, and Howrah.