IndiGo has cancelled and disrupted thousands of flights across India — some estimates put the cancellations at 3,000–4,000+ flights between late November and early December 2025.
The root cause: new pilot‑duty rules enforced by DGCA (the Directorate General of Civil Aviation), which raise mandatory rest periods and limit night‑flying for pilots. Airlines needed to adjust crew rosters — and IndiGo reportedly failed to plan adequately.
As a result, many flights lacked enough rested pilots — forcing wide-scale cancellations.
On top of crew issues, the disruptions were worsened by technical glitches, winter‑season weather delays, and high travel demand — creating a cascade of delays.
Consequences & Response
Airports across major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, etc.) experienced chaos: long queues, stranded passengers, luggage backlog, and huge delays. The Times of India+2India Today+2
The government has stepped in: DGCA issued a “show‑cause” notice to IndiGo and directed the airline to cut its daily flights by 5% to reduce load on crew and schedule pressure. Reuters+1
Passengers have been told they are entitled to full refunds, and rescheduling fees have been waived. Refund desks and support cells have been set up. Business Today+2India Today+2
IndiGo says it hopes to restore normal operations gradually — with a full recovery timeline cited as February 10, 2026, although limited services may resume sooner. Wikipedia+2India Today+2
What This Means for Passengers (and What You Should Do)
If you’re travelling soon:
✓ Check your flight status ahead of time — cancellations are still happening, especially on busy domestic routes.
✓ Keep refund/reschedule policies in mind — IndiGo is required to process refunds for cancelled flights and not charge extra for rebooking.
✓ Be prepared for alternative travel plans — you may need to consider trains, alternate airlines, or flexible scheduling depending on availability.
The disruption signals deeper systemic issues: the pilot‑rostering changes were meant to enhance safety and prevent fatigue — but IndiGo’s lack of preparation exposed how tightly their schedule was optimized. For frequent flyers, this may influence trust and future booking decisions.
Indigo flight cancellation reason
Reason for indigo flight cancellation the primary reason for recent mass IndiGo flight cancellations (December 2025) is a shortage of cockpit crew resulting from the airline’s failure to adapt to new, stricter pilot rest regulations, compounded by its high-frequency, lean operational model.
Add Business Connect magazine to your Google News feed
Must Read:-
