Technical glitches, weather and crew rules collide
In its official statement, IndiGo said the disruption emerged from several operational stress points coming together at the same time. Minor technology glitches, adjustments linked to winter flight schedules, bad weather in multiple regions and heavy airport congestion created a cascading effect that overwhelmed the airline’s network.
The airline also highlighted a key internal factor the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules. These rules, introduced last month, impose stricter rest requirements on pilots and cabin crew. While intended to improve crew welfare and safety, they have caused staffing shortages during peak operational hours.
Check-in system outage adds to chaos
The situation worsened on Wednesday morning when check-in systems malfunctioned across major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Several airlines, not just IndiGo, were forced to switch to slower manual processes, significantly increasing queue times and delaying departures.
Government aviation data revealed that only 35% of IndiGo’s 2,200-plus daily flights operated on time on December 2 one of the airline’s worst punctuality records in recent years.
IndiGo launches 48-hour stabilisation plan
Faced with mounting pressure, IndiGo said it had made “calibrated adjustments” to its flight schedules for the next 48 hours. These changes are expected to reduce aircraft strain, optimise crew deployment and help the airline gradually recover its network-wide punctuality.
Affected passengers are being offered alternate flights or refunds wherever applicable. The airline has urged travellers to check flight status on official platforms before heading to the airport. Passengers can use the DGCA portal or the IndiGo website for verified updates.
Passengers express frustration as delays mount
Social media platforms were flooded with complaints from stranded passengers who reported delays exceeding four hours in several cities. Some travellers said they missed connecting flights and international departures due to the cascading disruptions.
Many complained about unavailability of timely updates, lack of ground staff support and difficulty accessing customer care lines. The airline has acknowledged the dissatisfaction and said teams were “working round the clock” to minimise inconvenience.
What triggered the crisis?
According to aviation industry observers, multiple factors aligned simultaneously:
- Technical glitches in aircraft turnaround systems.
- Winter schedule transition with runway capacity restrictions.
- Weather disturbances in North India and parts of the East.
- Airport congestion due to holiday season traffic.
- New FDTL regulations causing temporary crew shortages.
- Check-in system failures across multiple airports.
Experts say the combination created a “perfect storm” for operational breakdowns. With the airline operating over 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, even minor disruptions can have a national-level impact.
When will full normalcy return?
IndiGo has committed to restoring stability within 48 hours. However, aviation experts believe normalcy may take longer, especially if weather conditions worsen. Airlines typically require up to 72 hours to fully recover from a network-wide disruption of this scale.
