Hyderabad: IndiGo flight cancellations exceeded 400 on Saturday as the airline struggled with disruptions linked to the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. Sources said the cancellations continued despite temporary relaxations approved by the DGCA. They said Bengaluru saw 124 cancellations, while Mumbai logged 109. Delhi reported 106 cancelled flights, and Hyderabad faced 66 cancellations during the day.
On Friday, the airline grounded more than 1,000 flights nationwide. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers released a video message and apologised for the widespread inconvenience. He said the carrier expected fewer cancellations on Saturday, although full recovery would take time. The DGCA offered temporary relief by revising the night-duty window and increasing the limit on night landings for pilots. Regulators allowed six night landings instead of two.
Pilots object to DGCA’s relief amid growing IndiGo flight cancellations
ALPA India, however, issued strong objections to the relaxations. The group said the DGCA move weakened regulatory balance and created safety risks for millions of passengers. It also claimed that the changes contradicted court orders, which mandated strict enforcement of fatigue-mitigation standards. After a meeting with the Civil Aviation Ministry on December 5, the Ministry placed the implementation of the revised FDTL norms in abeyance. ALPA said this action delayed essential protections and undermined judicial authority.
IndiGo was the first airline to oppose the new FDTL norms introduced in January 2024. Airlines argued that they needed additional crew and more preparation time. The updated framework increased weekly rest periods and limited night landings. Although several carriers raised concerns, the DGCA rolled out the rules after a long delay, following directions from the Delhi High Court.