IndiGo Crisis Explained: 1,500 Flights Cancelled as Crew Shortage Sparks Nationwide Aviation Meltdown

India’s aviation network descended into chaos this week as IndiGo, which commands nearly 60% of India’s domestic market, faced its biggest operational meltdown in 20 years. What began as routine delays quickly spiralled into a national aviation emergency, exposing severe lapses in crew planning and regulatory compliance.

Over 1,500 flights have been cancelled in just four days, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded across major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. With terminals overwhelmed, passengers were seen sleeping on floors, scrambling for updates, and in many cases left without food or access to their baggage. Airfares skyrocketed overnight — with some travellers noting that flying to Dubai was cheaper than flying between Indian metros.

How IndiGo’s planning failure triggered a nationwide crisis

At the centre of the collapse is IndiGo’s miscalculation of the manpower needed to comply with the DGCA’s newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) norms. These rules — designed to curb pilot fatigue — significantly increased mandatory rest hours, reduced night operations, and lowered flight-hour ceilings.

IndiGo, operating around 2,300 flights daily, severely underestimated the pilot strength required to operate its schedule under the new regulations. As the crew shortage worsened, delays snowballed into widespread cancellations, creating a chain reaction across the airline’s entire network.

Government steps in as crisis deepens

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held an emergency meeting with IndiGo’s leadership, while the DGCA launched an investigation into the airline’s scheduling failures. Regulators have temporarily relaxed certain FDTL restrictions to give IndiGo operational relief but warned that any safety deviation would lead to immediate cancellation of approvals.

The government has also ordered IndiGo not to pass on the crisis to passengers through fare hikes.

Passenger outrage grows

Scenes across airports were chaotic — passengers waiting 12-14 hours without information, long queues at help desks, and abandoned luggage piles. Many travellers missed job interviews, international connections, weddings, and funerals.

IndiGo has issued a public apology, acknowledging “planning gaps and misjudgment.” The airline has announced a temporary reduction of operations starting December 8 and estimates full stabilisation only by February 10, 2026.

Reputation crisis for India’s largest airline

Once known for its slogan “On Time. All the Time.”, IndiGo is now battling a major trust deficit. Industry experts warn that the episode reflects deeper structural vulnerabilities in India’s fast-growing aviation sector, where rapid expansion may have outpaced operational readiness.

As of now, thousands remain stranded — waiting for clarity, for compensation, and for an airline attempting to regain control of its schedule.