India's aviation sector is grappling with significant turbulence as IndiGo, the carrier commanding over 60% of the domestic market, faces a severe operational crisis. The airline, which typically flies two out of every three domestic passengers, is witnessing massive flight delays and widespread cancellations due to a crippling shortage of cabin crew and pilots. This disruption is hitting during the peak travel season, causing chaos for thousands of daily passengers.
Widespread Disruptions and Plummeting On-Time Performance
Official government data revealed a startling decline in IndiGo's operational efficiency. On Tuesday, December 2, only 35% of the airline's flights operated on time. This performance was even lower than that of other carriers like Alliance Air and SpiceJet, marking a dramatic fall for an airline whose key selling proposition has always been its On-Time Performance (OTP). The situation worsened on Wednesday, with major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru reporting nearly 200 flight cancellations by afternoon alone.
Root Cause: New Crew Rostering Norms and Systemic Issues
The core of the problem stems from a severe pilot and cabin crew shortage, exacerbated by the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms last month. These regulations mandate more humane working hours and rest periods for crew, a positive change for employee welfare that has, however, stretched existing resources thin. Airport officials described a scene of desperation, with the airline scrambling to manage operations.
"For some flights, there was no cabin crew available, so they had to be cancelled," explained harried officials. "The airline is sending crew to different bases to operate flights, but the shortage is such that things are out of hand. Flights are getting delayed by anywhere up to 7-8 hours." The cascading effect of these delays is expected to linger for a significant period.
Airline's Response and Passenger Advisory
In an official statement, an IndiGo spokesperson cited multiple factors for the disruptions. "We have had several unavoidable flight delays and some cancellations in the past few days due to various reasons including technology issues, airport congestion, and operational requirements," the spokesperson said. The airline assured that teams are working to normalize operations and are providing affected customers with alternate flight options or refunds.
Compounding the issues, airport-specific problems like a malfunctioning baggage messaging system at Delhi's Terminal 1 and partial issues at T3 added to the passenger woes. With India seeing about five lakh or more domestic passengers daily during this peak period, the impact of 65% of IndiGo's 2,200-plus daily flights being delayed is immense. The airline has urged passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport to minimize inconvenience.
