India’s largest airline continues to spiral through its worst operational crisis in years, with nationwide disruptions intensifying on Thursday. Delhi Airport — the country’s busiest aviation hub — said that all IndiGo domestic departures scheduled for 5 December have been cancelled until 23:59 hours, marking an extraordinary escalation in an already unstable situation.
The move comes as IndiGo’s on-time performance (OTP) collapsed to just 8.5 percent on 4 December, the lowest recorded so far during the crisis and far below other carriers operating under the same conditions. While no airline escaped the ripple effects of apron congestion and cascading delays, most competitors remained in the 50–60% OTP range in a stark contrast to IndiGo’s operational freefall. Images and videos from major airports showed overflowing terminals, stranded passengers, and hours-long delays spreading across the network.
On 2 December, IndiGo’s OTP had collapsed to 35 percent and by 3 December, the situation had deteriorated further, with punctuality plunging to 19.7 percent. Read more about the IndiGo chaos and what caused it in our article: Inside the IndiGo Crisis That Triggered Nationwide Air Travel Chaos
Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation dashboard
DGCA Steps In, Grants Temporary FDTL Exemption
Following a joint review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, senior officials confirmed that the regulator has now granted IndiGo a temporary exemption from Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms until 10 February 2026.
The exemption follows IndiGo’s admission that it misjudged its crew requirement ahead of the implementation of the revised FDTL rules on 1 November. The airline reportedly briefed regulators that existing staffing and roster structures could not support its winter schedule under the stricter duty-time limits.
A DGCA press note added that delays and cancellations are expected to continue for another 2–3 days, even as corrective measures take effect.
Flight Curtailment From December 8
To stabilise operations, IndiGo will reduce its schedule beginning 8 December, trimming flights to ease pressure on crew availability and improve recoverability. This marks a significant shift in strategy after two consecutive days of acute network stress, including diversions, apron congestion, and aircraft being held on the ground for extended periods.
Delhi Airport assured passengers that operations for all other airlines remain normal and urged travellers to check updated flight status before arriving at the terminal.
A Widening Operational Shockwave
The disruptions have extended beyond IndiGo’s own network. At airports with limited apron capacity such as Pune, IndiGo aircraft have been forced to wait for long durations after landing due to a lack of parking bays, impacting other carriers in the process. On social media, passengers described being stuck onboard for hours as ground congestion prevented deboarding.
Despite on-ground teams working to manage passenger flow, the cumulative effect of crew shortages, cascading delays, and regulatory constraints has pushed India’s most reliable airline into unprecedented territory.
IndiGo Issues Apology, Says Teams Working With Regulators to Restore Normalcy
IndiGo acknowledged the scale of the disruption in a statement issued yesterday, saying:
“The last two days have seen widespread disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations. We extend a heartfelt apology to all our customers and industry stakeholders who have been impacted by these events.”
The airline said its teams are working “with the support of MOCA, DGCA, BCAS, AAI and airport operators” to reduce the cascading impact of delays and stabilise operations. IndiGo added that customers are being kept updated on schedule changes and advised passengers to check the latest status before heading to the airport.
“IndiGo deeply regrets the inconvenience caused and remains focused on streamlining its operations at the earliest,” the statement said.
With DGCA oversight now heightened and a temporary FDTL relaxation in place, IndiGo is expected to focus on recalibrating crew rosters, improving staffing buffers, and rebuilding schedule resilience. But for passengers, the immediate outlook remains challenging.
The airline has indicated that full normalisation will take several more days, and further cancellations and delays are likely as the trimmed schedule takes effect.
For now, the message to passengers is clear: Check your flight status before leaving for the airport.
UPDATE — Chaos Spreads Beyond Delhi
The disruption is now widening across IndiGo’s network. Chennai Airport announced that all IndiGo flights to BLR, BOM, DEL, CCU and HYD scheduled up to 1800 hrs have been cancelled due to “operational reasons.”
The airport also said IndiGo has asked departure gates to hold passengers because many travellers booked on base flights are still stuck in the check-in and boarding areas – another sign of severe network-wide congestion.
Also Read: Inside the IndiGo Crisis That Triggered Nationwide Air Travel Chaos
Cover Image depicting chaos at Hyderabad Airport via @suyashkamat_ on X (formerly Twitter)
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