IndiGo A320 aircraft. Photo: 123rf IndiGo, the largest airline in India and one of the largest low-cost carriers in the world, has been in a severe operational crisis in recent days. Over the past week, hundreds of flights have been canceled each day, with a peak of over 500, an extremely high and unprecedented figure.
The main reason for the crisis, according to the company and the Indian media, is a severe shortage of aircrew, especially pilots, resulting from the implementation of new regulations on rest periods and working hours. The regulations require longer rest periods between flights and additional restrictions on night flights in order to reduce crew fatigue.
Today (December 5, 2025), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that it has withdrawn the new guidelines and requirements for the company, in order to assist in its return to normal operations.
Also, after many days without an official response, the company announced that "The last two days have seen widespread disruption across IndiGo's network and operations. We extend a heartfelt apology to all of our customers and industry stakeholders who have been impacted by these events." The company did not comment on the Indian Civil Aviation Authority's announcement.
IndiGo added: "We continue to keep our customers apprised of any changes to their scheduled flights and advise them to check the latest status at their official website before heading before heading to the airport. IndiGo deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains focused on streamlining its operations at the earliest."
Indian media have reported heavy congestion at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and other cities in recent days. IndiGo's operational punctuality metrics have also fallen to record lows.