Indigo Flights Disruption Continues

 

Major Disruptions Continue on Day 4

• On Friday, IndiGo cancelled around 500 flights nationally, dealing a heavy blow to travellers across India — especially from major hubs such as New Delhi and Mumbai. Reuters+2The New Indian Express+2

• At Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi), all departing domestic flights from IndiGo were grounded until midnight. The Indian Express+2mint+2

• The disruption has spread to southern India too: flights from Chennai International Airport (MAA) were cancelled until 6 pm on Friday. The New Indian Express+1

The scale — four days in a row with large-scale restrictions — has left passengers stranded at airports, forced to wait in long queues, scramble for alternatives, or miss important plans. India Today+2The Times of India+2

---

What’s Causing the Chaos — And Who’s Reacting

• The root cause remains a shortage of available crew and pilots, triggered by the recently implemented stricter duty-time & rest norms (Phase-2 of Flight Duty Time Limitations, or FDTL). Under these rules, pilot/crew working hours and night-landings are now tightly controlled — a change that IndiGo says it underestimated while planning. Deccan Herald+3Reuters+3Reuters+3

• According to civil-aviation authorities, the airline did not sufficiently rejig its roster or scheduling to align with the new rules — thus triggering a sudden operational crunch once the rules kicked in. Reuters+2www.ndtv.com+2

• The disruption has triggered sharp criticism — including in the parliamentary session currently underway. Lawmakers have raised concerns about riders of disrupted flights, monopolistic tendencies in the aviation sector, and accountability for passengers’ losses. www.ndtv.com+1

---

Impact on Travellers & Airports

• At multiple airports — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai among others — passengers have faced longer waiting times, last-minute cancellations, missing baggage, unclear communication from the airline, and soaring rush for re-bookings. The New Indian Express+2The Times of India+2

• Queues for rescheduling are long; some passengers reportedly waited for hours, while others were forced to abandon travel plans or face costly last-minute bookings with other carriers. India Today+2Deccan Herald+2

• Given that IndiGo carries a significant share of domestic travellers in India, the ripple effects are felt widely: surge in demand and airfares for alternate flights, straining of airport infrastructure, and growing frustration among travellers. The Financial Express+2The Times of India+2

---

What IndiGo Says — And What’s Being Planned

• The airline has acknowledged mis-calculating crew requirements under new rules and accepted there was a “planning gap.” Reuters+2Reuters+2

• They have reportedly told the regulator that they expect full restoration of operations by 10 February 2026, and have asked for some relief from the more stringent night-flying provisions to help stabilise in the interim. Reuters+2Reuters+2

• In the meanwhile, the cancellations will remain widespread, and schedule adjustments or flight cuts are expected to manage operations until stability is restored. The Economic Times+2Reuters+2

---

What Passengers Should Know Right Now

• Check status before you travel — especially if flying from or via Delhi or Chennai: many flights remain cancelled till midnight / 6 pm.

• Expect uncertainty — even confirmed bookings may be rescheduled; delays and abrupt cancellations remain possible.

• Have backup plans — explore alternate airlines, adjust travel dates if possible, or build buffer time if you have connecting flights.

• Stay updated — rely on official airline notices, airport advisories, or regulator announcements rather than third-party claims.

---

The Bigger Picture: Safety Norms vs. Operational Reality

The crisis at IndiGo highlights a broader tension in India’s aviation industry: on one hand, the introduction of stricter safety-driven rules (FDTL) aims to safeguard crew rest and prevent fatigue-related risks; on the other hand, airlines — especially high-frequency, large-network carriers — must rework long-established scheduling models to meet those mandates.

In the case of IndiGo, failure to adequately anticipate the impact of crew-resource constraints has triggered a major operational breakdown. The coming weeks will test whether the airline can rebuild buffer capacity, stabilize rosters, and restore reliability — or whether travellers will continue to bear the brunt of a system struggling to adapt.