US EditionIndia withdraws pilot restrictions after largest airline cancels flights and disrupts airports
The DGCA lifted the pilot rest restriction after IndiGo cancelled over 500 flights, citing pilot shortages and new crew duty regulations as main causes of widespread disruption.
- On Friday , IndiGo cancelled all domestic departures from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, until midnight and at least 102 flights early at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru.
- New government rostering rules limiting night flying took effect on November 1, and IndiGo did not rework rosters in time, causing pilot shortages that triggered disruptions, Reuters and the airline say.
- At Mumbai airport, 85 cancellations; Hyderabad 68; Chennai 31, including 26 departures, reflecting widespread disruptions, airport officials reported.
- Regulators have opened a probe as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation directed IndiGo to explain cancellations, seek exemptions, and submit a road map to restore operations by February 10, 2026.
- Passengers reacted by sleeping on airport floors, queuing for hours, and facing unclear communication while Sajal Bose took a nine-hour train ride to Bagdogra; Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi blamed a 'monopoly model' for the disruption on Friday.
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121 Articles
India's main airline, Indigo, which cancelled all its domestic flights this Friday from New Delhi and Chennai, refers to "adversarial errors and shortcomings in planning".
India's largest airline, IndiGo, has apologized for the numerous disruptions to its flight schedule. Hundreds of flights have been canceled in four days, leaving thousands of travelers stranded at airports across India. The problems arose due to new, more generous rules on mandatory rest periods for pilots. They must take a minimum of 48 hours of rest per week, instead of 36. Pilots are also now allowed to make two night landings per week, inste…
DGCA's FDTL rules "in abeyance" to aid stranded passengers: Civil Aviation Minister on IndiGo crisis
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday placed its Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders in abeyance to help stabilise the situation and minimise passenger inconvenience, in response to the ongoing disruption in flight schedules, particularly those of IndiGo Airlines.
Helplessness turns to fury: IndiGo crisis sparks passenger outrage across airports
IndiGo’s mass cancellations entered Day 3, disrupting passengers across major airports. Flyers faced long waits, poor communication, and chaotic scenes at help desks. Protests erupted as travellers demanded refunds, accommodation, and clarity.
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