Published: 1 December 2025Al JazeeraGeneral
IndiGo Flight Disruption Crisis Begins: Hundreds of Flights Cancelled Due to New FDTL Norms
India's largest airline IndiGo began cancelling hundreds of flights from December 2, 2025, triggering a major aviation crisis. The disruption was caused by IndiGo's failure to adjust to new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The new rules, announced in June 2024, increased pilot rest periods and reduced night-time work hours.
The crisis escalated rapidly — over the next 10 days, nearly 4,500 flights were cancelled. The FDTL rules were implemented in phases: Phase-I from July 2025 and Phase-II from November 1, 2025. IndiGo had delayed preparation for the changes despite having months of lead time. Passengers across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other major airports were stranded, causing widespread anger.
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Q: Discuss the IndiGo flight cancellation crisis of December 2025 and the role of DGCA's new Flight Duty Time Limitation norms in airline operations.
Answer (50 words):
India's largest airline IndiGo began cancelling hundreds of flights from December 2, 2025 due to non-compliance with DGCA's new Flight Duty Time Limitation rules increasing pilot rest periods. Phase-I rolled out in July 2025 and Phase-II from November 1. Nearly 4,500 flights were cancelled in 10 days, stranding passengers nationwide.
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Linked questionMedium
IndiGo's domestic market share in India is approximately:
Explanation · Correct answer DIndiGo has a domestic market share of more than 60%, making it India's largest airline.
Frequently asked questions
What caused IndiGo to begin cancelling hundreds of flights from December 2, 2025?
The disruption was caused by IndiGo's failure to adjust to new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
What changes did the new FDTL rules make for pilots?
The rules, announced in June 2024, increased pilot rest periods and reduced night-time work hours.
How large did the cancellation crisis become over the next 10 days?
Over the next 10 days, nearly 4,500 flights were cancelled.
How were the FDTL rules phased in, and where were passengers stranded?
The rules were implemented in Phase-I from July 2025 and Phase-II from November 1, 2025. Passengers were stranded across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and other major airports.
