IndiGo Airlines faced significant disruptions on Friday, cancelling over 1,000 flights, which is more than half of its scheduled operations. CEO Pieter Elbers described the day as the "most severely impacted day" in the airline's history and issued a public apology to passengers for the inconvenience caused. He assured that cancellations are expected to decrease to below 1,000 on Saturday, with a full return to normal operations anticipated between December 10 and 15.

The airline's operational challenges stemmed from new pilot duty regulations that increased weekly rest requirements and limited nighttime landings. Elbers acknowledged that earlier corrective measures were insufficient, prompting a complete reboot of the airline's systems and schedules. He stated, "Regrettably, earlier measures of the last few days have proven not to be enough. So we decided today for a reboot of all our systems and schedules, resulting in the highest number of cancellations so far, but imperative for progressive improvements starting tomorrow onwards."

To assist affected passengers, IndiGo has waived all cancellation and rescheduling charges for bookings made between December 5 and 15, 2025. The airline has also arranged thousands of hotel rooms and transport options across various cities to help stranded travellers. Elbers emphasized the importance of communication, stating that the airline has expanded call centre capacities and is providing real-time updates to passengers.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has played a crucial role by temporarily suspending the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, which have been cited as a major factor in the ongoing disruptions. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced that a high-level inquiry will be conducted to investigate the situation and ensure accountability.

As IndiGo works to stabilize its operations, Elbers reiterated the airline's commitment to restoring normalcy while prioritizing passenger safety and service quality. He concluded by expressing regret for the chaos experienced by travellers and assured that the airline is taking all necessary steps to improve the situation.