New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi issued a fresh passenger advisory on Friday, confirming that IndiGo operations are now “steadily resuming” after a severe airline crisis that resulted in the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights in a single day.
In its advisory, Delhi Airport said flight operations are “getting back to normalcy” and urged flyers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.
“We are glad to update that IndiGo flight operations are now steadily resuming and getting back to normalcy following the brief disruption. Please check the status of your booking and flight before leaving from home,” the airport authority said.
The statement comes after IndiGo cancelled all domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport till midnight on Friday, marking what the airline later acknowledged was the most severely affected day in its recent operational turmoil.
IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers said in a video message that the carrier expects full stability only between December 10 and 15.
“December 5 was the most severely impacted day, with the number of cancellations well over 1000. I extend our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience it has caused to our customers. It will take some time to return to a full normal situation, which we do anticipate between 10–15 December,” Elbers said.
Government Steps In Amid Crew Management Crisis
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held IndiGo’s crew mismanagement responsible for triggering the nationwide chaos, particularly in the context of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules implemented by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Speaking to ANI, the minister said the unfolding situation forced the government to grant IndiGo temporary relief from FDTL norms to normalise operations and help stranded travellers.
“From November 1, the DGCA came up with new FDTL regulations. The Ministry also initiated a continuous engagement process with airlines for at least six months. Other airlines, including Air India and SpiceJet, have adjusted. However, what has unfolded is due to mismanagement by IndiGo regarding its crew,” Naidu said.
He added that the Ministry has provided “certain abeyance” from FDTL norms to help IndiGo stabilise operations.
IndiGo, India’s largest airline with nearly 63% market share, has drawn scrutiny over its growing dominance, with recent disruptions leaving thousands of passengers stranded and sparking debates in Parliament. The Centre has directed all airlines to ensure speedy refunds and restore normal schedules.
DGCA Points to “Misjudgment and Planning Gaps”
The DGCA has attributed the meltdown to IndiGo’s “misjudgment and gap in planning” while implementing updated pilot duty-hour rules.
To ease immediate pressure, IndiGo has been granted a one-time exemption from night-duty regulations until February 10, 2026. This exemption relaxes stricter norms governing pilot rest periods and duty hours between 12:00 am and 6:50 am, enabling the airline to operate more flights during peak recovery.
The DGCA has also withdrawn the rule preventing airlines from counting pilot leave as weekly rest, giving IndiGo greater flexibility in managing rosters amid a crew shortage.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from the Airlines’ Pilots Association (ALPA) of India, which warned that bypassing established safety norms sets a “dangerous precedent” and could compromise pilot fatigue management.
The exemption, regulators insist, is temporary and aimed solely at stabilising operations after the unprecedented cancellations.