India’s largest airline, IndiGo, is facing one of its worst operational meltdowns, with a wave of cancellations and delays stranding thousands of passengers across major airports. What began as schedule stress triggered by India’s new fatigue-reduction rules has rapidly spiralled into a public confrontation between the airline, pilots, and regulators — exposing long-running fragilities in crew planning and morale.

The immediate flashpoint is the rollout of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) from November 1. These rules, mandated by the DGCA after a Delhi High Court order, increase mandatory weekly rest for pilots and restrict late-night landings to reduce fatigue-related risks. FDTL simply refers to the maximum number of hours a pilot can be on duty, including flying time, bri

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