New Delhi: On Wednesday, December 3, IndiGo cancelled more than 70 flights across India, with 42 from Bengaluru and 32 from Mumbai, due to a severe crew shortage. The disruptions were primarily triggered by the full enforcement of the second phase of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms from November 1, which increased mandatory rest periods, allowing pilots only two night landings per week.

Reports reveal that the airline struggled to deploy sufficient crew, with some pilots failing to report for duty. This, combined with ongoing roster gaps, led to widespread delays and cancellations. The Civil Aviation Ministry data showed IndiGo’s on-time performance plummeting to just 35 per cent on December 2, far below competitors like SpiceJet (82.5 per cent) and Air India (67.2 per cent).

An airline spokesperson acknowledged the disruptions, citing “unavoidable flight delays and some cancellations” due to crew shortages, technology issues, and airport congestion. Passengers were offered rebooking or refunds, and the airline urged travellers to check flight status online.

The FDTL norms, initially opposed by airlines over staffing concerns, were implemented following a Delhi High Court directive after a year-long delay. IndiGo, operating around 2,100 daily flights, has been particularly affected due to its high volume of night operations. The airline is now working to normalise schedules amid growing passenger frustration.