IndiGo Cancels 1,000 Flights Across India Amid Pilot Shortages and New Rest Rules

IndiGo canceled around 1,000 flights across India, including all departures from New Delhi, due to pilot shortages and new government rules requiring longer rest periods and limiting night flying. The disruptions stranded passengers at major airports, prompted temporary exemptions from the regulations, and caused widespread delays, with normal operations not expected until February 10.

Budget airline IndiGo canceled approximately 1,000 flights on Friday, including all departures from India’s capital, New Delhi, marking the fourth consecutive day of widespread operational disruptions. The cancellations came after the low-cost carrier struggled to comply with new government regulations that mandate longer rest periods for pilots and restrict night flying hours to improve aviation safety.

The airline, which controls more than 60 percent of India’s domestic market, has been facing a severe shortage of pilots, exacerbated by its underestimation of the impact of the new rules on staffing levels. Late on Friday, India’s Aviation Ministry temporarily paused the new weekly rest policy for pilots, with Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu assuring that flight schedules would begin to stabilize and return to normal by Saturday.

IndiGo apologized to passengers, acknowledging what it described as “a serious operational crisis.” At Delhi airport alone, all IndiGo departures, totaling 235 flights, were canceled on Friday. Chennai airport also reported that all IndiGo flights to major cities were canceled until 6 p.m. Other major hubs experienced extensive disruptions as well, with 104 flights grounded in Mumbai, 102 in Bengaluru, and 92 in Hyderabad. The Civil Aviation Ministry said that the airline had misjudged the effects of the stricter rules on pilot availability. To provide some immediate relief, authorities granted a temporary exemption from stricter night-duty limits, allowing the airline short-term flexibility.

No other carriers reported similar disruptions, but IndiGo shares fell nearly 3 percent on Friday, contributing to a weekly slump of 10.3 percent. Opposition lawmakers have called for a parliamentary discussion as travelers continue to experience delays and uncertainty.

The low-cost carrier, which operates roughly two-thirds of India’s domestic flights, warned that normal operations might not be fully restored until February 10. IndiGo attributed the disruptions to planning gaps as it implemented the second phase of the new duty rules. While temporary exemptions from some rules were granted, mandatory rest periods for pilots remain in effect.

Passengers were stranded at major airports, waiting for hours with little information from airline staff. Some were forced to sleep on terminal floors, and tense scenes were reported, including arguments and chants of frustration, particularly at Bengaluru airport.

One story that drew widespread attention involved a couple whose wedding reception in Karnataka was disrupted by the cancellations. Unable to travel from Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru and then onward to Hubballi for the event, the couple dressed for the occasion and joined their reception remotely via video link. The incident highlighted the human impact of the airline’s operational crisis amid the regulatory and staffing challenges.