The reason is simple: Acute crew shortage. The new, stricter FDTL (Flight Duty Time Limitation) rest norms kicked in on Monday. IndiGo, apparently, did not staff up to meet the minimum requirements. The planes are there, but the legally rested pilots and crew? They’re missing.
The disruption is hitting passengers hard. Their reputation—the one built on punctuality—is tanking fast.
The Passenger Nightmare
Social media is the field report here. People are venting. They’re stranded. The biggest complaint isn’t just the cancellation, but the lack of communication. Total silence from customer service.
Jotting down the field notes from travellers:
Pune to Delhi: “Delayed by more than 3.5\ \text{hours}.” And other flyers? Waiting over 12\ \text{hours}.
Pune Airport: One user called it a “messup,” noting “no passenger intimation at boarding gate, no staff, citizens self-service.” And the display board still says the flight is “on time.” That’s an absolute mockery of management.
The Wait: Across the board, people were stuck for up to14\ \text{hours} without a confirmed status. You can’t leave. You can’t plan. It’s the worst kind of limbo.
Regulator Steps In
IndiGo put out that statement, that vague, sorry-not-sorry apology. They blamed everything: “minor technology glitches,” “winter season,” “adverse weather,” “increased congestion,” and oh yeah, the “negative compounding impact” of the new FDTL rules.
Let’s be real. Industry sources are clear: the preparation for the FDTL rules was definitely not in place. IndiGo’s strategy was focused on cost control, and now they don’t have the buffer crew.
The good news is the aviation watchdog, the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), finally stepped in. They summoned IndiGo officials for a meeting on Thursday. They are demanding explanations and a concrete plan to stop the chaos. Because the current situation? It’s completely unacceptable and ongoing.
End…..
