IndiGo faced severe operational disruptions on Thursday, cancelling at least 250 flights as major airports across India struggled with continued delays and schedule changes. The airline has been grappling with new crew rostering rules and technical issues that triggered large-scale cancellations over the last two days.
On Wednesday, IndiGo cancelled over 150 flights and announced “calibrated adjustments” to its schedule for 48 hours to stabilise operations. On-time performance dropped sharply to 19.7%, down from 35% the previous day. Major hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru were the worst affected, with dozens of flights cancelled at each airport.
IndiGo said its teams are working round the clock to minimise passenger inconvenience and restore normal operations. Affected travellers are being offered alternate bookings or refunds. The carrier is also dealing with baggage system breakdowns at Delhi’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, adding to the chaos.
The disruptions were triggered by the rollout of updated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), which mandate longer rest periods for crew members. A recent emergency software patch for Airbus A320 aircraft also disrupted crew scheduling. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has summoned IndiGo to explain the situation and present a recovery plan.