IndiGo Grounds 5,000+ Flights, Nearly 8 Lakh Travellers Hit As India Faces Its Worst Aviation Disruption

Mumbai: IndiGo, India’s largest airline with nearly 65 percent market share, is facing an unprecedented operational crisis. Since December 2, the airline has cancelled more than 5,000 flights, affecting over 7.75 lakh passengers. The disruption is still ongoing, with more cancellations adding to the chaos. Airports across the country have witnessed stranded travellers, long queues, and widespread confusion.

New Pilot Fatigue Rules Trigger the Crisis

The crisis began soon after the rollout of Phase-II of revised Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) rules. These rules increased weekly rest for pilots from 36 hours to 48 hours, reduced night landings, and expanded the definition of night duty. IndiGo admitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry that it underestimated the impact of these changes and su