Due to ongoing operational disruptions at crisis-hit IndiGo Airlines, more than 250 flights were cancelled on Monday from Delhi and Bengaluru airports.
This crisis has now continued for seven straight days, and according to PTI, passenger distress is worsening.
Sources also say there is no clear sign of improvement yet.
Meanwhile, aviation safety regulator DGCA has extended the deadline for IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidro Porqueras to respond to the show-cause notices issued to them. They now have time until 6 pm on Monday.
In the notice issued on Saturday, DGCA described the large-scale operational failure as “serious lapses in planning, monitoring, and resource management” and demanded an explanation within 24 hours.
How Many Flights Were Cancelled?
IndiGo cancelled a total of 251 flights on Monday:
Delhi Airport: 134 flights (75 departures, 59 arrivals)
Bengaluru Airport: 117 flights (65 arrivals, 62 departures)
These cancellations, happening continuously since December 2, have increased frustration among both passengers and the government.
IndiGo has blamed the disruption on the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules for pilots, which have affected lakhs of passengers across India. For the first three days, the airline did not fully acknowledge the seriousness of the issue, but on Friday it cancelled a record 1,600 flights in a single day.
Following this, CEO Peter Elbers released a video message apologizing to passengers, though he did not mention that such a high number of cancellations would occur that day.
What Are the New FDTL Rules?
The new DGCA regulations were introduced in phases from July 1 to November 1. IndiGo has been given temporary relief from the second phase of these rules until February 10.
Important changes in the new rules include:
48-hour weekly rest for pilots
Expanded definition of night flights
Reduction in allowed night landings from six to two
Several airlines, including IndiGo and Tata-owned Air India, initially opposed these rules.
However, after a Delhi High Court order, DGCA implemented the rules gradually, with minor adjustments for some airlines.
These regulations were originally supposed to take effect in March 2024, but airlines had requested phased implementation due to the need for hiring more pilots.
