Shares of Interglobe Aviation, India’s largest airline operator, fell over 8% on Monday following widespread flight cancellations that affected thousands of passengers.
Indigo, which typically operates more than 2,300 flights daily, saw its schedule drastically cut to 706 flights last Friday due to new pilot rest regulations aimed at improving safety but which created crew shortages.
The airline reported operating 1,650 flights by Sunday and expects its network to stabilise by Wednesday. Meanwhile, India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, announced a government investigation into the disruptions, warning Indigo of “strict action” for any non-compliance.
Passenger experiences highlighted significant challenges. Chirag Shah, travelling from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, faced an eleven-hour delay and criticised the airline’s lack of support. Many passengers, especially those on single-entry visas, were stranded with limited assistance.
Although Indigo had refunded approximately 6.1 billion rupees by Sunday evening as per government requirements, some affected travellers received only minor consolation, such as free meal vouchers.
The disruption stems from Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) introduced in January 2024 and effective from November 1, which restrict late-night flying hours for pilots and increase mandatory rest from 36 to 48 hours. These safety measures strained crew scheduling, causing the cancellations. The government temporarily suspended enforcement of these rules last Friday to ease the situation.
Indigo’s CEO Pieter Elbers has been requested by aviation authorities to explain the operational issues, with an extension granted for his response. India’s domestic aviation sector remains fast-growing, with 1.3 million scheduled flights in 2024. Indigo dominates the market with a 53.4% seat capacity share, up from 23% in 2016.