Aviation operations for India’s largest carrier IndiGo are progressively returning to normalcy after experiencing one of its most severe operational crises in recent history. The airline confirmed Friday, December 5th, 2025, marked its worst disruption day with well over 1,000 flight cancellations, creating widespread travel chaos across Indian airports.
Delhi International Airport issued an official advisory confirming that IndiGo’s services are ‘steadily resuming’ and ‘getting back to normal.’ The airport authority strongly recommended that passengers verify their flight status through official channels before proceeding to airport terminals. Real-time flight updates remain accessible via the airport’s website and direct communication with airlines.
The unprecedented cancellations prompted intervention from India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, with Minister Ram Mohan Naidu identifying the root cause as IndiGo’s inadequate handling of crew scheduling during the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations. Notably, competing carriers including Air India and SpiceJet had successfully adapted to the revised aviation guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
In response to the crisis, IndiGo CEO Peter Elbers issued a video apology acknowledging the severe inconvenience caused to passengers. Elbers projected a full operational normalization timeline between December 10-15, indicating several more days of residual disruption might affect travel plans. The ministry has granted IndiGo temporary regulatory flexibility regarding FDTL compliance to facilitate smoother recovery operations.
The massive disruption highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in airline crew management and regulatory adaptation processes, raising questions about operational preparedness within India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.