IndiGo Airlines Faces Government Scrutiny Amid Ongoing Flight Disruptions; Passenger Relief Expected by February 2026

New Delhi: IndiGo Airlines continues to face operational challenges, with frequent flight delays and cancellations drawing the attention of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Since late November 2025, the airline has experienced significant disruptions, prompting government intervention.

Government Directives and Passenger Support
The Civil Aviation Minister convened a high-level meeting with senior ministry officials and IndiGo’s top management, directing immediate measures to assist passengers and stabilize operations. The Ministry emphasized close monitoring of the situation and demanded detailed information from the airline. While corrective actions are underway, passengers may continue to face disruptions for approximately two months.

In coordination with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), airport directors have been instructed to closely track the situation and provide comprehensive support to stranded travelers. DGCA has also been tasked with monitoring airfares to prevent any price exploitation during flight disruptions.

DGCA Raises Concerns Over Frequent Cancellations
A DGCA-led meeting, chaired by the Director General of Civil Aviation, expressed concern over IndiGo canceling 170–200 flights daily, an unusually high number for India’s largest airline. IndiGo cited initial operational difficulties in implementing the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, rolled out in two phases (1 July 2025 and 1 November 2025), along with crew planning challenges and winter weather disruptions.

DGCA instructed the airline to normalize operations promptly and assured that ticket fares must remain unaffected.

Information Required by DGCA
IndiGo has been asked to submit detailed plans covering:

• Recruitment of new crew members and acquisition timelines for new aircraft.
• Revised crew training and rosters, along with safety risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Immediate measures to reduce flight cancellations and stabilize operations.
• Biweekly progress reports detailing operational improvements, crew availability, and roster stability.
• Assessment of whether temporary relaxations in FDTL rules are needed to restore normal operations.

Temporary Flight Reductions
IndiGo informed DGCA that it would intentionally reduce flights starting 8 December 2025 to minimize passenger inconvenience and allow the crew planning team to adjust schedules. This controlled reduction ensures compliance with new FDTL rules and prevents last-minute operational disruptions.

Recovery Timeline
The airline assured that corrective measures are already underway, with operations expected to return to normal by 10 February 2026. IndiGo’s recovery plan includes accelerated crew recruitment, enhanced training, and phased resumption of flights once adequate staffing and stable rosters are ensured.