India's travel chaos has worsened after the country's largest airline, IndiGo, canceled hundreds of scheduled flights on Friday due to widespread disruptions across its network. The airline, holding a 60% market share and flying more than 2,000 flights daily, is grappling with pilot shortages following its failure to adapt to new crew rostering rules.
Thousands of travelers are stranded, especially as all IndiGo flights from Delhi have been halted. The airline has indicated that operations will return to normal by 10 February, seeking temporary relief from new regulations mandating additional rest hours and limiting night duties.
Starting 8 December, IndiGo plans to reduce flight operations to further minimize disruptions. Meanwhile, India's government is closely monitoring the situation, expressing dissatisfaction with how the airline is managing the crisis. The aviation regulator pointed out that these disruptions arose from misjudgment and planning gaps in implementing the new rules.
The repercussions of these cancellations have drawn criticism from the Airline Pilots Association of India, cautioning that any relief from regulations compromises passenger safety. As December is a hectic month in India, coinciding with school holidays and weddings, many passengers are sharing their frustrations on social media, lamenting the lack of communication and aid while stranded at airports.
IndiGo is waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees for travel between 5 and 15 December and is arranging accommodations for affected passengers. However, the situation remains critical, with local authorities urging travelers to verify their flight statuses before heading to the airport.
