What triggered the crisis and travel chaos
New Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL Phase II), enforced on November 1 after two years’ notice, capped pilot hours and mandated 48-hour weekly rest.
This caught IndiGo off-guard due to lean staffing, hiring delays, and razor-thin crew buffers.
On December 5, over 1,000 flights — half its schedule — were axed in a “network reboot” to reposition crew and aircraft, stranding thousands at airports like Delhi amid protests and chaos.
Will slot redistribution help?
Yes, partially: India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) plans proportional cuts based on IndiGo’s crew shortages, freeing slots for airlines with capacity to absorb demand and ease congestion.
Temporary exemptions on night duties aided recovery, but pilots’ unions slammed IndiGo’s “short-sighted planning” while rivals adapted swiftly.
A four-member probe eyes penalties, executive actions, and further 5% cuts if disruptions persist, according to Economic Times.
Who are the potential slot recipients?
Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air top considerations, with capacity to ramp up; Air India is reportedly lobbying aggressively.
These carriers have demonstrated fleet growth, active expansion plans, and immediate responses to the ongoing disruptions, positioning them to fill the gap amid peak demand, as per Business Standard.
While IndiGo submitted its response, enforcement looms as passenger fury mounts.
Reuters reported that operations show “partial recovery” with waivers, hotels, and buses for stranded flyers, yet full normalcy hinges on hiring and winter schedule tweaks.
The Air India Group, comprising Air India and Air India Express, is actively increasing capacity to support passengers affected by ongoing IndiGo flight disruptions.
Fare caps at Air India and Air India Express
Since December 4, 2025, both Air India and Air India Express have implemented caps on economy class fares for non-stop domestic routes, overriding standard revenue management systems to stabilise pricing during peak demand.
Some Indian lawmakers have accused IndiGo “intentional” flight disruptions on a massive scale, despite the two-year heads up given by DGCA, and called on the government to take punitive action against the airline.
