‘Worst is over,’ says IndiGo CEO after flight chaos; staff told to ignore speculation

Addressing employees, Elbers said “the worst is over” as the private carrier works to stabilise services after days of cancellations and delays that triggered public anger and regulatory scrutiny.

“Speculations are circulating, but I encourage everyone to please stay calm, focus on your professional responsibilities and avoid engaging in such speculations,” Elbers said in his message to staff.

The CEO said he would travel extensively across IndiGo’s network to understand and assess the root causes behind the disruption.

“We need a full-scale analysis first,” he said, announcing the appointment of an external aviation expert to conduct a comprehensive review.

“The leadership team, including myself, will travel across the network to meet you, understand the challenges you faced and seek your feedback,” Elbers added.

About the flight disruption

In early December 2025, IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced a major operational disruption that resulted in widespread flight cancellations and delays across its network, affecting thousands of passengers nationwide.

The disruption was largely attributed to the airline’s transition to revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, which mandate longer rest periods for pilots. Industry observers and regulators pointed to gaps in crew planning and staffing constraints during the rollout, which compounded operational challenges.

An estimated 4,500 flights were cancelled over several days, impacting tens of thousands of travellers. IndiGo later indicated that compensation and customer support costs could exceed ₹500 crore. Airports reported heavy congestion, with passengers complaining of prolonged delays, last-minute cancellations, refund delays and communication gaps.

The issue drew the attention of a parliamentary panel, which sought explanations from both IndiGo and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), flagging concerns over the handling of the disruption and passenger grievances.

IndiGo has since said corrective measures have been implemented, with close to 2,200 daily flights restored. The airline maintained that operations are stabilising and assured passengers that refunds, rebookings and compensation are being processed in line with regulatory guidelines.

The episode has renewed debate around airline preparedness, crew management and passenger protection, with consumer groups calling for clearer communication and stronger safeguards during large-scale disruptions.