IndiGo share price (NSE: INDIGO) has fallen over 8% in the last 5 trading days as the airline experiences one of its worst operational breakdowns in years. A slight recovery was seen after the DGCA reversed its circular on pilots’ weekly rest rules, but the broader pressure on the stock remains due to nationwide chaos.

DGCA Withdraws Pilot-Rest Circular

The DGCA rolled back the earlier rule that prevented airlines from counting leave as weekly rest. The regulator said this decision was taken to maintain operational stability amid ongoing disruptions, offering temporary relief to IndiGo’s strained crew schedules.

Passenger Chaos Across Major Airports

The crisis escalated rapidly, moving from minor delays to a full-scale network collapse. On Friday alone, around 400 flights were cancelled, taking total cancellations to over 1,000 in just a few days.

Passengers at major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai faced long lines, sudden cancellations and hours of uncertainty. In Delhi, all domestic departures were suspended until midnight, while Chennai halted departures until 6 pm, a rare occurrence for India’s largest airline, which has a nearly 60% market share.

Crew Shortage Triggers Network Breakdown

The new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, introduced last month, require longer rest periods and safer crew schedules. IndiGo was unable to realign rosters quickly, leading to a shortage of available pilots. 

This staffing crunch, combined with winter fog, minor technical issues and seasonal traffic, pushed the network into a complete meltdown.

IndiGo Apologises but Issues Persist

IndiGo issued a public apology, acknowledging that unexpected operational challenges had severely disrupted flights. The airline admitted it had “not anticipated” the scale of the crisis and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers.

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Government and DGCA Take Action

As cancellations grew nationwide, the DGCA demanded a detailed explanation from IndiGo along with a plan to restore normal operations.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held an urgent meeting, expressing dissatisfaction with the airline’s preparedness. Authorities instructed IndiGo to inform passengers proactively, arrange hotel stays when needed and prevent fare spikes due to reduced capacity.

Conclusion

With over 1,000 flight cancellations, crew shortages and a sharp fall in its share price, IndiGo is facing a highly challenging period. The DGCA’s withdrawal of the pilot-rest circular may ease immediate pressure, but restoring schedules, rebuilding capacity and regaining customer trust will be crucial for stabilising operations in the coming days.

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