Aviation Minister Halts FDTL Orders, Says IndiGo Flight Schedules Will Stabilise by Tomorrow

IndiGo Crisis Intensifies as Govt Steps In; DGCA Suspends FDTL Rules, Full Restoration Expected in Three Days

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, continued to face unprecedented operational chaos on Friday, prompting a series of urgent interventions from the government and aviation regulator. As nationwide cancellations crossed 750 flights, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced a high-level probe and confirmed that the DGCA has placed all Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders in abeyance with immediate effect to stabilise airline operations. The minister said IndiGo’s flight schedules are expected to begin stabilising by tomorrow, with complete restoration projected within the next three days.

The move comes amid severe disruptions across major airports, mounting passenger complaints, and escalating pressure on the aviation ecosystem, which is struggling to cope with the cascading impact of crew shortages and rostering constraints.

Government Orders Urgent Measures as Passenger Chaos Widens Nationwide

In a late-evening briefing, the Civil Aviation Minister said the DGCA’s decision to temporarily suspend FDTL rules was taken to “prioritise relief for affected passengers” while ensuring there is no compromise on safety. The regulator has also issued additional operational directives to ensure airlines restore services swiftly.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, responding to the sharp spike in cancellations, released two urgent directives aimed at helping IndiGo—and all carriers—reduce the ongoing travel chaos. The ministry said schedules would start normalising by midnight, with full operational stability expected within the next couple of days.

Passengers have been advised to monitor flight updates remotely as airlines update schedules in real time. IndiGo has promised automatic refunds, hotel accommodations for stranded passengers, lounge access for senior citizens, and refreshments during delays.

At the same time, airfare on alternate carriers has surged dramatically due to tight capacity. Delhi–Chennai connecting flights soared to ₹68,932, while Delhi–Mumbai non-stop tickets crossed ₹35,000, reflecting the severe supply-demand imbalance.

A 24×7 control room has been set up by the government to coordinate with airports, airlines, and pilot associations, ensuring quick response as the crisis evolves.

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FDTL Orders Suspended: DGCA Grants IndiGo Temporary Exemption Until February 10

To help IndiGo overcome its rostering constraints, the DGCA has granted a temporary exemption from certain crew duty rules and FDTL limitations until February 10, 2026. This includes flexibility in interpreting weekly rest provisions and flight duty windows—changes that are expected to make crew scheduling more manageable in the short term.

The regulator has also appealed to pilot unions for cooperation, especially as the peak winter fog season begins. With more than 500 flights cancelled or delayed on Friday alone, the DGCA warned that the situation could worsen if crew availability does not improve quickly.

Northern Railways Steps In to Support Stranded Air Travellers

As airports overflowed with confused passengers, Northern Railways announced a series of measures to ease disruptions for those unable to fly. These include:

• Augmentation of one 3A coach on Jat Rajdhani (12425/26)

• Augmentation of one 3A coach on DBRT Rajdhani (12423/24)

• Addition of one CC coach on Chandigarh Shatabdi (12045/46)

• Addition of one CC coach on Amritsar Shatabdi (12030/29)

Further enhancements are being planned as the situation evolves. This marks a rare instance of the railways stepping in directly to offset aviation disruptions.

Airport-Wide Cancellations Leave Passengers Stranded Across Cities

Several major airports reported near-total disruption of IndiGo services.

Chandigarh Airport

All IndiGo flights were cancelled until 10 pm, with airport officials citing “operational chaos.”

Bengaluru Airport

IndiGo cancelled all flights to Mumbai and Delhi until 23:59 hrs on December 5. The airline urged passengers travelling elsewhere to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

Goa (Dabolim) Airport

More than 30 IndiGo flights were cancelled, affecting routes to Bengaluru, Surat, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, and Bhopal.

At several airports, queues stretched through terminals, with passengers reporting wait times of several hours.

Passenger Voices: ‘My Flight Has Been Cancelled Three Times’

The severity of the crisis is reflected in the frustration of affected travellers. One passenger, trying to travel from Jammu to Pune via Delhi, said:

“They have been cancelling my flight for three days. First it was scheduled for yesterday at 4:15 pm, then rescheduled to 10:30 am today, and now cancelled again. I had booked my ticket two months in advance—they should have arranged an alternative instead of just refunding.”

Such testimonies have amplified calls for a thorough investigation into the root causes of IndiGo’s meltdown.

IndiGo Issues Public Apology as Crisis Deepens

Facing mounting scrutiny, IndiGo issued a public apology, confirming that all domestic departures from Delhi Airport were cancelled on December 5. The airline acknowledged “a serious operational crisis” and promised to “take care” of passengers through automatic refunds, rescheduling waivers for travel between December 5–15, hotel stays, food vouchers, and lounge access for the elderly.

IndiGo said it is working with the DGCA and government to restore operations at the earliest.

Crisis Expected to Ease Within 72 Hours, Says Government

Despite the scale of disruptions, the Civil Aviation Minister expressed confidence that the worst phase of the IndiGo crisis will pass within 72 hours. He emphasised that the government remains “fully alert” and is monitoring the situation through real-time data from airports, DGCA dashboards, and airline control rooms.

With aviation authorities now coordinating on an hourly basis, the system is expected to stabilise in stages, provided crew availability improves and weather conditions remain manageable.

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