Overview
- Cancellations continued into Friday with more than 400 flights scrapped nationwide after over 550 on Thursday, as Delhi’s airport said all domestic IndiGo departures were canceled until midnight and Chennai halted departures until 6 pm.
- The DGCA said the disruption arose from misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing Phase 2 of Flight Duty Time Limitations, with IndiGo acknowledging it underestimated crew requirements.
- IndiGo told regulators it will reduce services from December 8, expects stable operations by February 10, 2026, and has requested temporary exemptions from specific FDTL night‑duty provisions for A320 operations.
- On‑time performance at six major metros plunged to 8.5%, and airports reported severe crowding, long delays, missing baggage and passenger protests as travelers struggled to get rebooked or refunded.
- Authorities ordered increased airport staffing, real‑time inspections and airfare monitoring, while apron congestion and aircraft stuck for lack of crew delayed other airlines’ flights and pushed last‑minute fares sharply higher, including a Hyderabad–Bhopal economy ticket listed at about ₹1.03 lakh.