IndiGo Cancels 250+ Flights as New Crew Rostering Rules Cause Massive Disruptions Across Airports

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continued to struggle on Thursday as new crew rostering rules, software glitches and heavy passenger load triggered widespread cancellations across major airports. For the second consecutive day, flight operations were severely hit, forcing the airline to cancel more than 250 flights nationwide.

1. Second Day of Large-Scale Cancellations

After cancelling about 150 flights on Wednesday, IndiGo scrapped at least 250 more on Thursday.
Civil aviation ministry data showed that the airline’s on-time performance (OTP) dropped sharply to 19.7%, from 35% the previous day — an unprecedented fall for the country’s most punctual carrier in normal conditions.

2. Major Airports Worst Affected

Flights were cancelled across all major hubs:

• Delhi: 33 flights

• Hyderabad: 68 flights

• Mumbai: 85 flights

• Bengaluru: 73 flights

On Wednesday as well, Delhi alone saw 67 cancellations, Bengaluru 42, Hyderabad 40 and Mumbai 33.

Passengers reported last-minute cancellations, long queues and delays while trying to get rebooked on alternate flights.

3. IndiGo Announces ‘Calibrated Adjustments’

The airline said it has made “calibrated adjustments” to its network for 48 hours to stabilise operations.
IndiGo stated that teams are working round the clock to minimise discomfort for travellers and are offering refunds or alternate options wherever possible.

However, the airline did not issue an operational update on Thursday, creating further uncertainty.

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4. What Triggered the Crisis?

Industry sources point to a combination of factors:

• A sudden Airbus A320 software glitch that affected crew scheduling

• New FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) that restrict staff working hours

• Weather disruptions

• Increased airport congestion

• Minimal spare crew available due to tighter rostering norms

The A320 software issue, applied over the November 29–30 weekend, reportedly disrupted the scheduling system at a time when the airline was already operating under strict duty rules.

5. New FDTL Rules Tighten Rest Requirements

The updated FDTL norms — introduced in two phases (July 1 and November 1) — require:

• 48 hours weekly rest for crew

• Longer “night period” definitions

• Only 2 night landings allowed (earlier 6)

• Stricter fatigue management

Because IndiGo operates a large number of night flights, these rules have put extra pressure on crew availability.

6. DGCA Summons IndiGo for Explanation

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of the disruptions and summoned IndiGo to its headquarters.
The regulator has asked the airline to explain:

• What led to the widespread cancellations

• How it plans to manage delays

• What mitigation steps are being taken immediately

DGCA data shows the airline had already cancelled 1,232 flights in November, with 755 cancellations linked to FDTL issues.

7. Baggage System Problems Add to Passenger Woes

On Wednesday, baggage systems at Delhi’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 malfunctioned, creating further chaos.
Several passengers reported missing onward connections and long delays at check-in counters.

8. IndiGo’s Large Network Magnifies Impact

IndiGo operates 2,200–2,300 flights daily to 90+ domestic and 45 international destinations.
Even a small disruption in its network can cascade into hundreds of cancellations.

As of December 2, the airline had 416 aircraft, but 50 were grounded, up from 47 the previous month.

9. Industry Experts Blame Poor Planning

The Airline Pilots Association of India criticised the airline, calling it a failure of proactive resource planning.
Aviation expert Ameya Joshi said IndiGo’s heavy night operations make the new FDTL rules challenging, and inadequate planning could worsen the impact.

10. What Happens Next?

Flight operations may remain unstable until:

• Crew rosters are rebuilt

• Software glitches are fully fixed

• Additional crew become available

Passengers have been advised to check flight status before leaving for the airport and expect delays over the next two days.