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Why have new pilot rest rules caused such massive disruption across Indian airports and why is IndiGo suffering the most severe impact as thousands of fliers struggle with cancellations delays and mounting chaos at major terminals.
Over 300 flights have been cancelled in 48 hours.
New Delhi: Airports across India are witnessing scenes of frustration and panic as IndiGo struggles with widespread delays and cancellations triggered by a combination of stricter flight duty regulations and internal operational challenges. Long queues stranded passengers and repeated schedule changes have created a crisis affecting thousands of fliers over the last two days.
IndiGo has acknowledged the disruption while attributing it to a cluster of operational hurdles including seasonal schedule shifts technology issues weather conditions clogged air traffic and significantly the enforcement of revised national safety rules for crew duty hours.
The bulk of the stress placed on airline operations stems from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s updated Flight Duty Time Limitations which took effect in early 2024. These rules were introduced to ensure pilots receive sufficient rest and operate in safer duty environments. They include longer weekly rest periods an expanded time window classified as night and stricter caps on maximum night landings.
The shift has hit crew availability across airlines because many pilots who were earlier rostered for frequent night duty can no longer be scheduled as per the older pattern. This has forced a large scale redesign of flight schedules. While all airlines have had to adapt IndiGo appears to have faced the most severe strain.
IndiGo faces major crisis; Cancels 100+ flights across 8 airports
India’s busiest carrier operates over two thousand flights a day which means even a small percentage of cancellations translates into hundreds of disrupted flights. The airline has built its network around high frequency quickly returning aircraft and extensive overnight operations which are now directly limited by the new duty rules.
Pilot organisations have pointed out that IndiGo may have underestimated the staffing levels needed to implement the revised norms. They argue that the airline had years to prepare but maintained a lean manpower strategy and enforced a hiring freeze even as the new rules approached. They also said some carriers were late in adjusting rosters even though they were expected to prepare revised schedules almost two weeks in advance.
Some aviation experts have even speculated that certain delays across airlines might be an attempt to pressure the regulator to ease the new norms although pilot unions have warned against any dilution of safety rules.
Over 70 IndiGo flights cancelled due to crew shortages; Here’s what airline says
More than three hundred flights have been cancelled within forty eight hours and at least one hundred more are expected to be cancelled today. Major hubs including Bengaluru and Hyderabad continue to see heavy disruption with passengers reporting extended waits and repeated reminders to return to the airport later.
Several fliers have described being stranded for more than twelve hours without clarity on accommodation or alternate flights. Many have criticised the airline for repeatedly promising short delays that extended through the night.
IndiGo has said it is making measured adjustments to normalise operations within the next two days and assured passengers that its teams are working continuously to restore schedules.
Pilot associations have urged the aviation regulator to approve airline schedules only when carriers prove they have adequate pilot strength under the new safety norms. They pointed out that relaxing these rules without scientific justification would undermine safety since the objective of the new norms is to combat fatigue.
They have also called for better planning and responsible staffing from airlines to ensure disruptions of this scale do not recur in the future.
