Nationwide chaos: IndiGo cancels over 450 flights — minister reveals what really went wrong

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said the airline is required to follow Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) for all passengers impacted by delays and cancellations, adding that an inquiry has been initiated into the software issue.

He noted that continuous technological upgrades are routine in the aviation sector and said the government’s broader vision is to ensure India’s aviation ecosystem operates at top global standards.

Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Photo: Ram Mohan Naidu/X

More than 450 IndiGo flights were cancelled on Monday as the airline attempted to stabilise operations after nearly a week of severe disruption.

According to India Today, cancellations were widespread across major metro airports: Delhi reported 134 cancellations, followed by Bengaluru (127), Hyderabad (77), Chennai (71) and Jammu (20), while Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad also experienced significant disruptions.

Although Monday’s numbers remain high, they represent an improvement from the 650 cancellations recorded on Sunday and the more than 1,000 reported earlier in the week.

FDTL rule rollout triggers meltdown

IndiGo, known for its punctuality and scale, admitted that it failed to adequately prepare for the rollout of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots, which came into force on November 1.

The new rules impose stricter limits on night flying hours and mandatory weekly rest, forcing airlines to overhaul crew rosters. IndiGo’s inability to realign schedules in time triggered a cascading operational breakdown, leading to crew shortages, massive delays and unprecedented cancellations across its network.

DGCA issues show-cause notice to CEO

In a rare reprimand, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers over what it described as an “operational collapse”.

The aviation regulator said the disruptions caused “severe inconvenience, hardship and distress” to passengers nationwide and accused IndiGo of failing to prepare for the new FDTL regime despite being notified months in advance.

The notice states that the airline violated several Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), failed to comply with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and did not extend mandatory assistance to stranded passengers. The DGCA has held the CEO directly responsible for ensuring operational oversight.

Elbers has 24 hours to respond, failing which the matter may be decided ex parte—potentially leading to penalties or operational restrictions.

IndiGo says it is rebuilding trust

Despite the crisis, IndiGo said it has made “early improvements” following a major operational reset. In a video message on Friday, CEO Pieter Elbers apologised to passengers and acknowledged the scale of the disruptions.

The airline claimed that 95 percent of its operations have now been restored and said it is focused on rebuilding the trust of millions of travellers affected by the week-long turmoil.