IndiGo, India’s largest airline, was plunged into deeper chaos on Thursday after new norms for pilot rest periods crippled its scheduling system and forced the cancellation of more than 180 flights from major airports across the country.
The cascading delays, now entering their third day, have stranded thousands of passengers at major airports and prompted renewed scrutiny of airline planning and preparedness.
What’s driving IndiGo’s latest wave of cancellations?
The unrest stems from strict Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL) imposed by India’s aviation regulator to combat pilot fatigue.
Acknowledging that these updated safety standards have had a significant impact on operations, IndiGo said earlier this week that the cancellations were due to “various factors including tighter flight service limits”.
The Federation of Indian Pilots has strongly criticized the airline’s preparedness, noting that IndiGo “was unable to make timely schedule adjustments and properly plan its schedule” ahead of the implementation of new rules mandating longer rest periods and tighter limits on night flights.
How many flights were canceled on Thursday and where?
Airport officials confirmed widespread disruption to major metro services:
Bengaluru: 73 cancellations
Delhi: About 30 cancellations
Hyderabad: 68 cancellations
Mumbai and other metros: Dozens more expected
The figures come on top of 150 flight cancellations IndiGo recorded on Wednesday, signaling deepening operational stress at the carrier, which has more than 60% of India’s domestic market share.
How serious is the impact on IndiGo’s reputation?
IndiGo’s reliability has long been central to the brand identity. The airline popularized the term “IndiGo Standard Time” and prided itself on punctual departures and strict adherence to flight schedules. However, the current crisis represents a significant obstacle to this two-decade-old reputation.
The airline said in a statement on Wednesday that it was making “calibrated adjustments” for the next 48 hours to stabilize operations – admitting that a full recovery could take several days.
Why are the new pilot scheduling rules so disruptive?
The revised FDTL standards – part of a wider effort to reduce pilot fatigue – require:
- Raised windows for relaxation
- Tighter limits for consecutive night flights
- More restrictions on working hours
These changes severely limit pilot availability, forcing airlines to reconfigure schedules, add buffer time and potentially reduce flight time. The Federation of Indian Pilots alleged that IndiGo underestimated the extent of these adjustments and failed to adjust schedule planning in time.
For a carrier that operates more than 2,000 domestic flights a day, even small slips in the schedule can cause system-wide delays.
Should travelers expect more IndiGo cancellations?
With IndiGo now in the midst of “calibrated adjustments”, more cancellations are likely till Friday. Passengers from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata are particularly advised to keep a close eye on their flight status.
IndiGo has urged customers to check real-time updates through its website before traveling to the airport, given the volatile nature of the situation.
