IndiGo cancels hundreds of flights, worsening travel chaos in India.

India's travel situation has deteriorated following the cancellation of hundreds of flights by IndiGo, the nation's largest airline, on Friday. This comes after three consecutive days of major disruptions across its network. IndiGo, which controls around 60% of the domestic market and operates over 2,000 flights daily, has been struggling with a shortage of pilots due to difficulties in adapting to newly implemented crew scheduling regulations.

Thousands of travelers are now stranded across India during a peak travel period, with all flights from the capital, Delhi, being cancelled. The airline has announced that normal operations are expected to resume only by 10 February and has requested temporary exemptions from the new rules, which mandate longer rest periods and limit night-duty hours. Additionally, IndiGo plans to reduce its flight schedule starting 8 December to minimize further disruptions.

The government has stated it is monitoring the situation closely. The federal aviation minister has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the airline's handling of the crisis. According to India's aviation regulator, the chaos is largely due to "misjudgment and planning gaps" in implementing the updated flight duty time restrictions. The regulator has instructed IndiGo to provide a detailed plan addressing crew hiring, training, roster adjustments, safety assessments, and other corrective measures without delay.

The Airline Pilots Association of India has sharply criticized IndiGo, warning that any relaxation of duty-time regulations could compromise flight safety and undermine the intent of the new rules. Among these rules is a requirement for pilots to perform only two night-time landings per week, down from six previously, and longer rest periods between duties.

Passengers have voiced frustration on social media, citing lack of timely updates and inadequate support at airports. Singapore's High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, shared his own difficulties, noting that he was stranded and unable to attend a staff member's wedding.

Major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities have issued advisories urging travelers to verify flight status before traveling to the airport.

Author: Caleb Jennings