New Delhi: In one of the worst operational breakdowns in its 19-year history, IndiGo on Friday cancelled over 1,000 flights—more than half its daily schedule—after CEO Pieter Elbers announced a full-scale “system reboot” to reset the airline’s crew and aircraft operations.
Elbers issued a public apology for the nationwide disruption and said the sudden collapse in schedules was triggered by the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), combined with severe operational challenges over the past week.
The airline said the “reset” was necessary to stabilise its network, and cancellations are expected to gradually reduce from Saturday.
Three-Step Emergency Response Launched
IndiGo outlined a structured action plan to address the crisis:
- Strengthening customer communication through proactive updates
- Clearing the backlog of stranded passengers, prioritising urgent travel cases
- Realigning aircraft and crew schedules to restore stability across the network
The airline is working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has temporarily relaxed crew rostering rules to help IndiGo recover faster.
Full Normalcy Only by Mid-December
Elbers said the airline is aiming for complete recovery between December 10 and December 15, but warned that scattered delays and cancellations may continue until then.
“We are doing everything within our control to not only restore your belief but to strengthen it further,”
— Pieter Elbers, IndiGo CEO
Passengers across India have faced long queues, last-minute cancellations, missed connections, and severe travel disruptions, with experts calling this one of the biggest aviation crises India has seen in recent years.
