IndiGo Airlines is slowly returning to normal operations after a significant disruption that led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights on Friday. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi issued an advisory confirming that flight services are now "steadily resuming" and urged passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.

The airline faced severe operational challenges, particularly affecting domestic flights from Delhi, which were halted until midnight on Friday. IndiGo's CEO, Peter Elbers, acknowledged the situation, stating, "December 5 was the most severely impacted day, with the number of cancellations well over 1000. I extend our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience it has caused to our customers. It will take some time to return to a full normal situation, which we do anticipate between 10-15 December."

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu attributed the disruptions to IndiGo's mismanagement concerning new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) regulations set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He noted that the ministry had to grant IndiGo a temporary exemption from these regulations to help restore normalcy and assist stranded passengers.

Naidu explained, "From November 1, the DGCA came up with new FDTL regulations. Other airlines, including Air India and Spice Jet, have adjusted. However, what has unfolded is due to mismanagement by IndiGo regarding its crew. We have given certain abeyance regarding FDTL norms to IndiGo to ensure normalcy."

The recent cancellations have raised concerns about IndiGo's dominant market share of nearly 63%, leading to discussions in Parliament about potential monopolistic practices. The government has directed airlines to implement measures to address the disruptions and ensure passenger refunds.

The DGCA has indicated that the operational issues stemmed from IndiGo's "misjudgment and gap in planning" in adapting to the new pilot duty-hour regulations. To stabilize operations, IndiGo has received a one-time exemption from the DGCA's night duty rules until February 10, 2026. However, this decision has faced criticism from the Airlines' Pilots Association of India, which argues that it undermines established safety regulations.

As the situation develops, passengers are advised to stay updated on their flight statuses and prepare for potential delays as IndiGo works to restore its services fully.