WEB DESK: India’s leading airline has halted all departures from New Delhi and canceled hundreds of flights nationwide after acknowledging a failure to manage updated pilot duty rules, leaving thousands stranded and its operations in disarray.
The disruptions, now entering their fourth day, have severely impacted IndiGo’s network and stranded numerous passengers, marking one of the most significant operational challenges in the carrier’s history.
IndiGo attributed the turmoil to “misjudgment and planning gaps” in implementing new pilot fatigue guidelines, which came into effect on November 1. These changes mandate extending pilots’ weekly rest periods from 36 to 48 hours and reducing allowable night landings from six to two per week.
On Thursday, the airline informed regulators that it aims to restore full operations by February 10 and has sought temporary exemptions from certain restrictions involving night duties.
Investor confidence in IndiGo has faltered amidst the crisis. The carrier’s shares dropped nearly 3 percent on Friday, adding to a total decline of over 10 percent for the week.
Official data shows the airline’s on-time performance plummeted to 8.5 percent on Thursday from 19.7 percent the previous day. IndiGo canceled over 250 flights on Thursday and around 150 flights on Wednesday.
India, home to the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market after the US and China, sees low-cost carriers controlling more than 78 percent of capacity. As IndiGo dominates domestic seat share and steadily expands its international reach, this week’s crisis has brought its operations to an abrupt halt.
