Delhi Skies Clearing: IndiGo Flights Resume Amid Crew Chaos Recovery

Crisis Overview

IndiGo's nationwide meltdown, triggered by inadequate planning for revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and crew rest norms effective late 2025, peaked Friday with all Delhi domestic departures halted till midnight—impacting 60% of domestic traffic. Delhi Airport now confirms gradual resumption, urging status checks via apps/sites.​

CEO Pieter Elbers apologized, projecting stabilization by Dec 10-15 after DGCA granted temporary FDTL exemptions till Feb 2026. Refunds process swiftly for cancellations.​

Key Highlights

Scale of Chaos: 1,000+ cancellations Dec 5 alone; 150+ at Delhi since morning, spilling to other airlines via slot crunches.​

Root Cause: Crew shortages from new fatigue rules; DGCA probe underway with advisories ignored.​

Recovery Steps: Operations rebooting; <1,000 cuts expected Saturday; full normalcy in 5-10 days.​

Passenger Tips: Verify flights before travel; IndiGo offers 100% refunds, rebookings.​

Sources: NDTV, Hindustan Times, Business Standard, India Today.