Why only IndiGo collapsed into severe flight chaos — ex-AirAsia CFO reveals the real reason

The crisis emerged after a severe shortage of cockpit crew coincided with the government’s newly implemented “48-hour rest” mandate for pilots—an increase from the previous 36-hour requirement.

However, Naidu dismissed IndiGo’s claim that the revised rest rule triggered the chaos, pointing out that no other airline had reported similar turbulence under the updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms introduced in November.

“Other airlines are following the same FDTL norms and have not faced such disruptions,” Naidu stressed, making it clear that the responsibility lies with IndiGo alone.

Why IndiGo Alone Collapsed: Ex-AirAsia CFO Explains

Former AirAsia India CFO Vijay Gopalan weighed in on the crisis, revealing what makes the situation unique to IndiGo, India’s largest airline.

Gopalan explained that IndiGo’s long-standing operational strategy—built on extremely lean staffing and low-cost efficiency—left no room for sudden regulatory shocks such as extended pilot rest periods.

“IndiGo has always been a lean and mean machine… everything from staffing onward has been extremely lean. They run a low-cost carrier,” Gopalan said.

He added that Air India, the only other major airline with comparable scale, may have had a cushion of surplus pilots due to grounded aircraft, allowing it to absorb the new norms without disruptions.

The Crisis Continues

The cascading delays and cancellations have triggered government intervention, with the Aviation Ministry initiating a probe into IndiGo’s operational collapse. Meanwhile, passengers continue to face significant inconvenience as the airline works to restore normalcy.

Government Says 'Action Inevitable'

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said the government was “fully alert” and in constant consultation with stakeholders to stabilise operations.

“Every necessary measure, including regulatory relaxations permitted by the DGCA, is being taken to restore normalcy and minimise public inconvenience,” he said.

Speaking to NDTV, Naidu made it clear that action against IndiGo was unavoidable.

“It’s not ‘could be’, it will be. There will be action on them… our focus is the passenger,” he said.

IndiGo’s Worst Operational Crisis in Years

IndiGo, long regarded for its punctuality and operational efficiency, has seen its reputation shaken as cancellations and delays mount. The airline acknowledged the crisis earlier, attributing the disruption to a severe shortage of cockpit crew.

The airline said it was working to announce revised schedules and restore normal services at the earliest.