IndiGo, India's largest domestic airline, has cancelled 243 flights scheduled for December 8 and 9, 2025, amid ongoing operational disruptions triggered by non-compliance with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. The second and final phase of these regulations, implemented in November 2025, aims to enhance pilot rest hours and safety but has led to widespread crew shortages at the low-cost carrier. Affected routes span major domestic hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, as well as regional connections to Goa and northeastern cities including Guwahati, Imphal, Dimapur, Silchar, Aizawl, and Jorhat. A handful of international sectors, such as Mumbai-Singapore and Chennai-Penang, are also impacted, exacerbating travel woes during the peak winter season when demand for festive and holiday flights is high.
The cancellations stem from IndiGo's struggle to align its rosters with the stricter FDTL rules, which limit maximum flight duty periods and mandate adequate rest, following a similar crisis in late November that grounded over 150 flights. IndiGo's Board of Directors responded swiftly by establishing a Crisis Management Group to mitigate the fallout, including delays in over 100 additional flights. Passengers have been advised to check the airline's website or app for real-time updates, with options for full refunds or rescheduling to alternative flights where available. While no mandatory compensation details were specified, the DGCA has urged IndiGo to prioritise affected travellers and avoid further disruptions amid growing scrutiny from aviation authorities on compliance across carriers.
Key cancellations on December 8 include international flights like 6E 1021 (Mumbai to Singapore), 6E 1045 (Chennai to Penang), and 6E 1413/1414 (Mumbai-Abu Dhabi round trip), alongside dense domestic circuits such as Delhi-Mumbai, Bengaluru-Delhi, Hyderabad-Mumbai, and Chennai-Delhi. Regional routes hit hard feature Kolkata-Guwahati, Hyderabad-Pune, Bengaluru-Coimbatore, Nagpur-Delhi, and Kolkata-Hyderabad, with multi-stop services to northeastern destinations like Imphal, Dimapur, Silchar, Aizawl, and Jorhat also axed. These disruptions have stranded thousands, particularly business travellers and families heading to winter getaways, forcing many to scramble for seats on rival airlines like Air India Express or SpiceJet.
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On December 9, the list extends to 6E 6914 (Guwahati to Bhubaneswar), 6E 2189/2188 (Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram round trip), 6E 6825 (Agartala to Delhi), 6E 6739 (Indore to Bengaluru), 6E 415/256 (Coimbatore/Mangaluru to Bengaluru), 6E 875/876 (Hyderabad-Kozhikode round trip), 6E 525/524 (Silchar-Agartala-Bengaluru routes), 6E 343 (Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai), 6E 924 (Hyderabad to Mumbai), 6E 975 (Bengaluru to Kolkata), 6E 6339 (Kolkata to Dimapur), and 6E 596 (Goa to Mumbai). This wave underscores the ripple effects on connectivity to southern and eastern India, with airports like Bengaluru's Kempegowda International issuing advisories for extended check-in times.
The broader aviation sector, already strained by monsoon recoveries and rising fuel costs, faces renewed pressure as IndiGo—carrying over 60% of domestic passengers—grapples with these norms designed to curb fatigue-related incidents. Past FDTL violations have drawn fines from the DGCA, and this episode highlights the challenges of retrofitting scheduling for a fleet of 350+ aircraft. Travellers are urged to monitor IndiGo's official channels for waivers on change fees, while the Crisis Management Group works on long-term solutions like enhanced crew training and roster optimisations to restore normalcy by mid-December.
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