India's largest airline, IndiGo, is set to conduct a "root cause analysis" following days of widespread flight cancellations and disruptions that have affected thousands of passengers across the country. A senior airline official stated on Sunday, December 7, 2025, that the disruptions stemmed from a combination of operational factors, and the analysis aims to determine the contribution of each factor. The airline anticipates full operational stabilization by December 10, 2025, advancing its earlier estimate of December 10-15.
The disruptions, which began in early December, have resulted in over 2,100 flight cancellations as of December 5. On Sunday alone, the airline cancelled 650 flights. This has led to stranded passengers in major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Guwahati. IndiGo, which typically operates around 2,300 daily flights, managed to operate 1,650 flights on Sunday, with an improved on-time performance of 75%, up from 30% the previous day.
Several factors contributed to the chaos. IndiGo cited "unforeseen operational challenges," including technology glitches, seasonal schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, and congestion within the national aviation system. However, a primary factor appears to be the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots, which came into full effect on November 1, 2025. These new rules, designed to combat pilot fatigue, mandate increased rest periods and limit night landings, impacting crew scheduling.
The Federation of Indian Pilots pointed out that IndiGo's challenges stemmed from "years of lean manpower planning", delayed hiring, and other short-sighted practices. While IndiGo maintains it has sufficient pilots, the airline acknowledged that it may not have had enough of a buffer compared to some competitors. Pilot unions have also alleged that IndiGo management ignored warnings and failed to adequately prepare staffing rosters, maintaining a prolonged hiring freeze and implementing schedule planning that did not factor in the new rest norms.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken immediate action, issuing a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and the Accountable Manager, holding the airline responsible for the disruptions and citing "significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management". The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also established a 24/7 hotline to assist affected passengers.
Amidst the crisis, the government has intervened to minimize passenger discomfort. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu held a meeting with IndiGo's CEO and senior officials. The government has also placed price caps on airfares due to rising ticket costs on other airlines and has ordered IndiGo to complete all pending refunds. The Railway Ministry has decided to add 116 more coaches to 37 premium trains to ease travel.
IndiGo has taken measures to restore stability, including temporary schedule adjustments and a full waiver on cancellation and rescheduling fees for bookings until December 15, 2025. The airline has also formed a Crisis Management Group to oversee recovery efforts and streamline customer support. IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, has praised the airline's staff for managing the challenging on-ground situations and has stated that the airline's network coverage has been fully restored, with routes reconnecting gradually.
