New Delhi: The nationwide IndiGo Flight Chaos intensified on Friday as Delhi airport announced that all domestic IndiGo departures would remain cancelled till midnight. Minutes later, DGCA sources claimed the cancellations were only until 3 pm, adding even more confusion for thousands of stranded passengers already grappling with delays, rising fares and uncertainty.
IndiGo Flight Chaos Over 1,300 Indigo Flights Cancelled in Four Days
The IndiGo Flight Chaos reached its peak on Thursday when the airline cancelled 550 Indigo flights in a single day the highest cancellations in IndiGo’s history. On Friday, more than 500 flights were cancelled, while over 200 flights were cancelled between Tuesday and Wednesday. In total, nearly 1,300 flights have been grounded in four days, with no immediate signs of relief.
New FDTL Rules Trigger Crew Shortage
At the core of the Flight Chaos are the new FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitations) rules for pilots and cabin crew. The updated guidelines mandate 48 hours of weekly rest instead of 36, limit consecutive duty hours and reduce night operations.
The first phase took effect on July 1 and the second on November 1, resulting in many crew members listed as “on duty” in old rosters becoming ineligible to fly. IndiGo admitted it underestimated the crew requirement needed under the revised norms.
IndiGo Seeks Exemption, Says Recovery Won’t Be Easy
The airline has requested a relaxation of the rules till February 10, 2026, to stabilise operations and hire more crew. CEO Pieter Elbers told staff that restoring normalcy “will not be easy” given the scale of disruptions.
For now, the IndiGo Flight Chaos continues to cause major distress across airports, leaving passengers frustrated and airlines under intense scrutiny.
