December 21, 2025 05:33 pm (IST)
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Pilot shortage crisis: IndiGo asks for rule relaxation after 200 daily cancellations
IndiGo has sought temporary exemptions from pilot rest and duty-time rules until February 10, 2026, as the airline grapples with widespread operational disruptions triggered by the rollout of new fatigue-management norms, media reports said.
The airline admitted to regulators that it underestimated the number of pilots required under Phase 2 of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which came into effect on November 1 following a court order.
Under pressure from mounting cancellations, authorities have paused two key changes—extending the definition of night duty from midnight–5 am to midnight–6 am, and limiting pilots to two night landings. Both revisions are now temporarily rolled back.
IndiGo warned that cancellations will likely continue for two to three more days as flight schedules are stabilised.
From December 8, the carrier will scale back operations to ease the strain. Over the past three days, lakhs of passengers have been stranded nationwide, with the airline cancelling 170–200 flights daily—far above normal levels.
The crisis prompted Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to summon IndiGo’s top management for an emergency review with officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The government said it is closely monitoring IndiGo’s network as the disruptions continue to ripple across airports.
IndiGo told the DGCA that transitioning to FDTL Phase 2 significantly increased pilot staffing requirements, particularly for night operations where duty restrictions are tighter and slot windows narrower.
The airline acknowledged that its internal forecasts misjudged the scale of changes, resulting in planning gaps and insufficient crew at a time when winter weather and airport congestion were also impacting operations.
The revised safety norms, aimed at reducing pilot fatigue, have forced widespread adjustments to crew rosters, flight timings, and turnaround durations.
DGCA issues tough compliance orders
In response to the cancellations, the DGCA has directed IndiGo to submit:
- A roadmap for pilot recruitment and aircraft induction
- A revised operational stabilisation plan
- Fortnightly progress updates on crew availability and scheduling
- Details of all requested FDTL relaxations
- The regulator said it will continue real-time monitoring of IndiGo’s flight operations and passenger services.
Ground inspections by DGCA teams at major airports revealed that IndiGo had inadequate passenger-handling staff, especially at Delhi’s Terminal 1—the worst-affected location.
Overcrowding and delays left passengers struggling for assistance, prompting the regulator to order an immediate ramp-up in manpower and support desks.
The Civil Aviation Minister has directed airports to provide continuous assistance to stranded travellers. MoCA has also asked DGCA to monitor airfares closely to ensure prices do not spike unfairly during the disruption.
With IndiGo scaling down operations and regulators tightening oversight, authorities expect gradual improvement even as thousands more passengers may continue to face delays in the coming days.
The Civil Aviation Minister has directed airports to provide continuous assistance to stranded travellers. MoCA has also asked DGCA to monitor airfares closely to ensure prices do not spike unfairly during the disruption.
With IndiGo scaling down operations and regulators tightening oversight, authorities expect gradual improvement even as thousands more passengers may continue to face delays in the coming days.
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