IndiGo canceled over 550 flights on Thursday alone, marking the airline’s biggest disruption ever.

By Aniket Chakraborty Dec 5, 2025 Arrow INDIA NEWS

The airline attributed the cancellations to pilot shortages amid new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations.

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Passengers were left stranded at multiple airports, including Delhi, creating chaos across terminals.

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In total, nearly 1,300 IndiGo flights have been canceled, with more disruptions expected until December 8.

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IndiGo admitted it misjudged the number of pilots needed under new FDTL rules, which mandate longer rest periods.

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The airline faces backlash for not having enough crew, especially after increasing its flight schedules amid regulatory changes.

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CEO Pieter Elbers apologized to passengers, acknowledging that restoring normalcy won’t be easy.

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IndiGo has requested an exemption from the new FDTL rules until February 2026 to stabilize operations.

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The Federation of Indian Pilots criticized IndiGo’s “lean manpower strategy,” blaming management decisions for the chaos.

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With the airline’s operations at risk, passengers and staff continue to suffer as delays and cancellations pile up.

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