Amid delays and cancellations of IndiGo flights that have affected passengers across India in the past two days, the airline on Thursday admitted to misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing the second phase of Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms and said it will curtail flights from December 8.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that IndiGo is experiencing a surge in flight cancellations, reaching around 170-200 flights per day, which is significantly more than normal.
The airline has told the aviation regulator DGCA that more cancellations will continue for the next 2-3 days as part of efforts to stabilize the flight schedule.
It added that corrective measures are underway and stable flight operations will be fully restored by February 10, 2026.
Earlier in the day, the airline’s chief executive, Pieter Elbers, admitted that the airline could not deliver on its promise of a good customer experience.
In a memo to IndiGo staff, he said the airline’s immediate objective is to normalize operations and bring punctuality back on track, “which is not an easy target”.
“We serve nearly 380,000 customers a day, and we want every one of them to have a good experience. We couldn’t keep that promise in the past few days, and we’ve publicly apologized for that,” he said.
Elbers said several issues affected the airline, including operational challenges, minor technology glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation ecosystem and the implementation of the newly issued FDTL.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu held a high-level meeting with the top management of IndiGo in the presence of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and officials.
Naidu expressed clear displeasure with the airline’s handling of the situation and ordered IndiGo to speedily normalize operations and ensure that there is no increase in fares due to the current situation.
He also ordered airlines to proactively inform passengers of any likely cancellations well in advance and to ensure that all necessary facilities, including hotel accommodation if required, are provided immediately.
The ministry said the DGCA has been directed to conduct strict real-time monitoring of IndiGo’s operations, including field inspections at major airports, with special emphasis on passenger handling arrangements and timely communication during delays and cancellations.
