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IndiGo Pilots' New Rules Spark Flight Chaos
9 Dec, 2025
Summary
- New pilot duty rules introduced on November 1 may be causing IndiGo's operational issues.
- India's aviation regulator is investigating hundreds of IndiGo flight cancellations.
- IATA Director General suggests IndiGo is making progress in restoring operations.
IndiGo is actively recovering from significant flight disruptions that impacted its services over the past week. The airline's operations are reportedly stabilizing, according to its CEO. These widespread cancellations and delays have drawn the attention of India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has launched a formal investigation.
The challenges are closely linked to newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots, which commenced on November 1st. These new regulations alter pilot duty-hour limits and are considered a potential factor by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, indicated that IndiGo is making strides in resuming normal operations, while also suggesting the FDTL norms may have contributed to the difficulties. The Civil Aviation Minister has assured that appropriate action will be taken against IndiGo.
