Civil Aviation Ministry Puts Crew Rest Norms ‘In Abeyance’ to Stabilise Flight Schedules Amid Mass Cancellations
New Delhi, December 5, 2025 — The Ministry of Civil Aviation today launched a high-level inquiry into the widespread flight disruptions plaguing IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, as Minister K. Rammohan Naidu pledged to restore complete operational normalcy within the next three days.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The decision comes after four consecutive days of massive cancellations and delays—totaling over a thousand flights—at major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and airfares soaring on popular routes.
Proactive Measures to End the Turmoil
Addressing the spiraling crisis, Minister Naidu announced a significant, though temporary, intervention: the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has placed certain revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew members “in abeyance” with immediate effect.
“Without compromising on air safety, this decision has been taken solely in the interest of passengers, especially senior citizens, students, patients, and others who rely on timely air travel for essential needs,” Minister Naidu said in a statement.
The Ministry’s proactive steps aim to immediately ease the acute crew shortage that triggered the crisis, which IndiGo itself attributed to “misjudgement and planning gaps” during the implementation of the second phase of the new FDTL rules designed to enhance pilot rest and reduce fatigue.
“Based on the immediate implementation of these directives, we expect that flight schedules will begin to stabilise and return to normal by tomorrow. We anticipate that complete restoration of services will be achieved within the next three days,” the Ministry statement confirmed.
High-Level Inquiry to Pinpoint Accountability
Beyond operational adjustments, the government has instituted a high-level inquiry to scrutinise the root causes and determine accountability for the network failure. The inquiry will:
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Examine what went wrong in IndiGo’s internal planning and resource management.
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Determine accountability wherever required for appropriate action.
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Recommend measures to prevent similar, large-scale disruptions in the future.
Minister Naidu also directed IndiGo’s management to ensure that airfares do not spike due to the capacity shortage and that comprehensive passenger support—including timely communication, full refunds, and hotel accommodation—is provided immediately.
Airline Seeks Longer-Term Relief
While the government seeks immediate stabilization, IndiGo has reportedly informed the DGCA that it requires operational stability to be fully restored only by February 10, 2026. To achieve this, the airline has sought temporary exemption from specific FDTL provisions for its A320 fleet until that date. The DGCA is currently reviewing this longer-term request.
Meanwhile, the aviation regulator has been instructed to conduct strict, real-time monitoring of the airline’s operations and passenger-handling at major airports. The Ministry has also set up a 24×7 Control Room to monitor the situation and ensure swift coordination.
