IndiGo informs DGCA more flight cancellations will continue for 2-3 days as part of schedule stabilisation

IndiGo

IndiGo has informed India's aviation regulator DGCA that more flight cancellations will continue for the next 2-3 days as part of the schedule stabilization efforts, according to PTI.

The airline which is under severe pressure in the wake of hundreds of cancellations and delays in the last 2 days told the aviation regulator that it will reduce flight operations from December 8 in order to minimize disruptions, the news agency reported.

With public anger rising and social media flooded with complaints, the DGCA called in IndiGo’s senior management to explain the mass cancellations and prolonged delays.

According to a DGCA press note, IndiGo admitted that it had misjudged the new crew requirements under the new FDTL regulations. This resulted in shortages, especially during night-time operations where most available slots now fall.

The airline has also sought temporary operational exemptions from specific FDTL provisions till February 10, 2026, assuring the regulator that operational stability will be restored by then.

"To reduce passenger inconvenience while maintaining safety margins, IndiGo has requested operational variations/exemptions from specific FDTL provisions para 3.11(Definition of Night Duty) and 6.1.4 (for operations encroaching night duty) for A320 operations up to 10th February 2026. IndiGo has assured DGCA that corrective actions are underway and that normalised and stable operations will be fully restored by 10 February 2026," the press note stated.

DGCA inspections at major airports, including Delhi's Terminal 1, revealed the Airline's inadequate passenger-handling manpower, prompting orders for immediate reinforcement.

"The team observed that IndiGo's passenger-handling manpower was inadequate to manage disruption-induced crowding. The airline has been instructed to urgently increase manpower and strengthen passenger-support services at all affected terminals," the press note said.

The airline has apologized for the delays and cancellations with its CEO saying in an internal memo that the priority is to normalize operations.

"IndiGo's immediate goal is to normalise operations, bring punctuality back on track which is not easy target," said CEO Pieter Elbers.

Amid speculation that new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms and crew shortages are at the heart of the crisis, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has pointed to deeper planning and governance issues.

“The situation concerning the recent flight cancellations across India, allegedly attributed to pilot shortage due to new Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms, raises significant questions about the airline's management, regulatory oversight by the DGCA, and market fairness,” ALPA India said in a statement.