Overview
- IndiGo’s schedule unraveled with nearly 600 cancellations in three days and roughly 1,300 across November and December.
- The cascade stemmed from a required Airbus A320 software patch colliding with updated pilot rest rules in a system run with thin crew buffers and high aircraft utilization.
- With roughly half to 60% of domestic capacity, IndiGo’s stumbles translated into nationwide disruption that left terminals crowded and families stranded.
- The DGCA paused parts of the new duty and rest requirements and granted exemptions extending relief toward 2026, after which operations began to stabilize.
- Analysts urge reforms including auditable fatigue and rostering systems, forward-looking stress tests, automatic penalties scaled to market share, and competition-focused policy changes.