IndiGo Crisis: Aviation Minister Blames IndiGo's 'Miscalculation', Says Inquiry Ordered - Watch

IndiGo has been hit by severe operational breakdowns for four consecutive days, mainly due to pilot-rostering problems linked to the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms that came into effect on November 1. These rules mandate longer rest periods and fewer night landings for pilots. IndiGo failed to adequately plan for the transition, according to officials, resulting in over 1,000 flight cancellations on Friday alone. With India’s largest airline struggling to schedule enough pilots, delays and cancellations spread across its network, affecting thousands of travellers.Aviation Minister Blames IndiGo’s “Miscalculation” Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Friday said the massive nationwide disruption in IndiGo flights

was caused by the airline’s “miscalculation” of crew requirements under the new Flight Duty Limitations (FDL) norms, asserting that the government moved into “immediate mode” to stabilise operations and prevent passengers from suffering further delays.Naidu said the new norms, which came into effect on November 1, were known to all airlines in advance. “All the airlines were supposed to comply for it and they had good time to comply also. IndiGo for some reason they had a miscalculation of the flight crew and the rostering and everything. That was why the effect came into visibility from December 3” he said.Naidu confirmed that a formal investigation has been ordered against IndiGo. “We have ordered a strict inquiry into it… as we find the details of the inquiry, we are going to take strict action,” he said.He added that the ministry also had to prioritise passengers already booked to travel during the holiday season. After consultations with stakeholders and pilots’ bodies, the government decided to temporarily keep the FDTL norms in abeyance. “We have decided that the FDTL norms we'll keep it in abeyance for some time and we'll have a phased approach,” he said. Naidu assured passengers that IndiGo has apologised and that flyers will not be charged for rebooking or cancellations. “There is going to be no charge being taken by IndiGo... whoever is facing that inconvenience has to be facilitated by IndiGo itself,” he said. He added that airlines have been instructed not to exploit the crisis by hiking fares.The minister said major metros such as Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai have already been cleared and passengers should see rapid improvement. “By Monday or Tuesday we are going to see complete normalcy,” he said.Naidu assured passengers that IndiGo has apologised and that flyers will not be charged for rebooking or cancellations. “There is going to be no charge being taken by IndiGo… whoever is facing that inconvenience has to be facilitated by IndiGo itself,” he said. He added that airlines have been instructed not to exploit the crisis by hiking fares.Watch the exclusive interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_-AWkYiLTY

Scenes of Chaos at Major AirportsAt Delhi and Mumbai airports, where IndiGo cancelled more than 200 flights on Saturday alone, passengers faced long hours of waiting with little clarity about their flight status. Mumbai saw 109 cancellations, while Delhi recorded 106, sources told Times Now. The situation was similar in Jammu and Srinagar. Although IndiGo resumed nine flights in Jammu, two remained suspended, and many passengers said they had spent up to nine hours at the airport without accurate updates,In Srinagar, seven arrivals and seven departures were cancelled, adding to the uncertainty. Travellers alleged that fares on other airlines had jumped from around Rs 4,000 to as high as Rs 30,000, while trains were fully booked, leaving them with no alternatives.Airfares Skyrocket Amid Capacity CrunchAs IndiGo, which controls nearly two-thirds of domestic air traffic, slashed hundreds of flights, fares on several major routes rose sharply. A one-way economy ticket on a SpiceJet Kolkata–Mumbai flight for December 6 touched Rs 90,000, while an Air India Mumbai–Bhubaneswar ticket climbed to Rs 84,485. Travel industry representatives called the surge “black marketing” and urged the government to impose temporary fare caps, similar to those implemented during the pandemic. They said last-minute fares were increasing four to six times above normal levels due to reduced capacity.Government Steps In With Emergency MeasuresThe Ministry of Civil Aviation announced urgent measures to contain the crisis. It placed the FDTL orders in abeyance to free up more pilot hours, while insisting that safety would not be compromised. The ministry said flight schedules should begin stabilising within a day and fully normalise in three days. "The Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) orders of the DGCA have been placed in abeyance with immediate effect. Without compromising on air safety, this decision has been taken solely in the interest of passengers, especially senior citizens, students, patients, and others who rely on timely air travel for essential needs," Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu said in a statement.The government has also decided to institute a high-level inquiry to determine the reasons and accountability for the IndiGo disruptions that has resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays in the past four days.Airlines have been told to give automatic full refunds for cancelled flights and arrange hotel stays for stranded passengers. Senior citizens and differently abled travellers are to receive priority assistance and lounge access. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also established a 24x7 Control Room (011-24610843, 011-24693963, 096503-91859) that monitors the situation in real time to ensure swift corrective action.

DGCA Grants Temporary Relief to IndiGoTo help IndiGo rebuild its schedules, the DGCA issued temporary exemptions valid until February 10, 2026. These include easing restrictions on night landings, reducing the definition of “nighttime” from 12 am–6 am to 12 am–5 am, and allowing pilot leave to count as weekly rest. Twelve Flight Operations Inspectors on deputation from IndiGo have been allowed to return to flying for a week. DGCA teams have been deployed at IndiGo’s operational control centres and airports for real-time oversight. A four-member inquiry committee will also examine the reasons behind the airline’s failure to foresee and manage the crisis.What IndiGo SaysIn a video message, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers apologised to passengers and said the airline has initiated a “reboot” of its systems and schedules to stabilise operations.

He said cancellations should decrease from Saturday and that full recovery is expected between December 10 and 15. IndiGo said short-term cancellations were necessary to ease congestion and rebuild operations in a phased manner.