A major flight disruption crisis has hit India’s largest airline, IndiGo, due to its failure to comply with new crew flight time regulations, causing thousands of flight cancellations nationwide and affecting peak travel periods like the winter wedding season.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has convened high-level reviews with officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to address the repercussions and monitor government response.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has established a 24×7 passenger assistance hotline, while the DGCA has issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s CEO and mandated a 10% cut in IndiGo’s flight schedule.
The government has imposed fare caps on alternative airlines and mandated quick refunds to passengers. Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu has publicly condemned the airline for poor crew rostering and promised strict action, emphasizing accountability to safeguard Indian civil aviation standards.
IndiGo’s disruption has triggered widespread flight cancellations across India in early December 2025, significantly affecting the peak winter wedding travel season. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched a 24×7 hotline for affected passengers, and the central government has ordered a high-level inquiry into IndiGo’s crisis.
The DGCA has served a 24-hour show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers and directed IndiGo to reduce its flights from the winter schedule by 10% starting December 2025. The government has imposed airfare caps on competing airlines following fare hikes amid the disruption.
IndiGo has promised full refunds for cancellations from December 5 to 15. The Railway Ministry has added 116 coaches to 37 premium trains to mitigate travel issues. Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu has vowed very, very strict government action, citing crew roster mismanagement, not technical faults.
The incident has raised concerns about safety and regulatory enforcement in the Indian civil aviation sector. The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA are closely monitoring the situation to ensure that airlines comply with regulations and prioritize passenger safety.
The government’s response to the crisis has been swift and decisive, with a focus on passenger welfare and accountability. The incident has also highlighted the need for better coordination between agencies and stakeholders to prevent such disruptions in the future.
