India’s largest carrier IndiGo faces mounting operational challenges as massive flight cancellations and severe delays continue to disrupt travel between the United Arab Emirates and India for the fourth consecutive day. The airline canceled over 500 flights on Friday alone, creating a backlog that may require weeks to fully resolve.
Passengers traveling between Dubai and Mumbai have borne the brunt of these disruptions, with some experiencing delays extending up to ten hours. Dubai resident Mohammed reported his brother’s 12:15 PM Thursday flight to Mumbai ultimately departed at approximately 10:00 PM that evening. Another traveler, Satish, arrived at Dubai International Airport Terminal 1 before 5:00 PM for a 7:00 PM flight only to face eventual cancellation, leaving him with limited rebooking options and visa complications.
The scale of disruptions extends beyond the Mumbai route. A Dubai-Kozhikode flight scheduled for 3:20 AM Friday departed over eight hours late at 11:29 AM. Similarly, a Dubai-Ahmedabad flight originally set for 5:15 AM Friday was rescheduled for 3:00 PM—a nearly ten-hour delay.
IndiGo issued a public apology on social media platform X, acknowledging ‘widespread disruption across IndiGo’s network and operations’ over the previous two days. The airline expressed regret to affected customers and industry stakeholders.
The crisis stems primarily from new Flight Duty Time Limitations implemented by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These regulations mandate 48 hours of weekly rest for pilots and cap weekly night landings at two, significantly reduced from the previous allowance of six. The changes respond to growing concerns about pilot fatigue but have created immediate operational challenges.
In response to the ongoing disruptions, Indian media reports indicate the DGCA has issued notices to relax weekly rest requirements for crew members, suggesting regulatory flexibility to address the airline’s operational crisis.