India's largest carrier, IndiGo, has finally signaled a corner in its ongoing operational crisis. Following days of widespread chaos, major airports, including Delhi's IGI Airport, have issued advisories stating that IndiGo's flight operations are "steadily resuming" and "getting back to normalcy."
The airline, which had been forced to cancel well over 1,000 flights nationwide yesterday (Friday, December 5, 2025), is projected to see a significant reduction in disruptions today, marking the first major step toward recovery.
Key Updates and Road to Normalcy
1. Sharp Drop in Cancellations Expected
The scale of cancellations for today (Saturday, December 6, 2025) is expected to be substantially lower than the peak recorded on Friday, which saw over 1,000 cancellations after the airline grounded all domestic departures from Delhi until midnight. This dramatic drop is the first sign of successful schedule stabilization efforts.
2. DGCA Intervention and Temporary Relief
The operational meltdown, attributed primarily to the unforeseen consequences of implementing the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules for flight crew, prompted an urgent intervention from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
- Temporary Exemption: The DGCA has granted IndiGo a one-time temporary exemption from specific crew duty regulations, particularly concerning night duty and night operations for its A320 fleet, until February 10, 2026. This exemption is designed to provide immediate relief and aid the airline in managing its pilot staffing crunch while ensuring continuity of service.
3. Airline’s Apology and Timeline
IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers issued a public statement apologizing for the severe inconvenience caused to customers. He confirmed that while December 5th was the most severely impacted day, the situation is expected to return to a "full normal situation" between December 10 and 15, 2025.
4. The Cause: FDTL Rules and Planning Gaps
The disruption was triggered by a "misjudgment and planning gap" within IndiGo regarding the implementation of the new FDTL regulations, which were designed to improve safety by reducing pilot fatigue. The new rules mandated:
- Increased weekly rest for pilots (to 48 hours from 36).
- A wider definition of night duty.
- A reduction in permitted night landings (from six to two per week).
The sheer size of IndiGo's high-frequency, night-heavy network proved incompatible with the tighter crew rest requirements, leading to an acute pilot shortage.
Advice for Stranded Passengers
While operations are stabilizing, IndiGo has advised passengers to remain vigilant:
- Check Status: Check the status of your booking and flight on the official IndiGo website or app before leaving for the airport.
- Refunds and Rebooking: The airline has promised to process automatic full refunds to the original mode of payment for all cancellations and will offer a full waiver on all cancellation or reschedule requests for bookings traveling between December 5 and December 15, 2025.
