IndiGo's Turbulent Winter: 600 Flights Cancelled, Thousands Stranded Amid Crew Shortage Crisis
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India's biggest airline, IndiGo, has been plagued by a severe operational crisis, cancelling over 600 flights since Tuesday and stranding tens of thousands of passengers. The crisis has exposed the fragility of IndiGo's business model, which relies heavily on cost-cutting measures and minimal operational buffers. The airline has admitted to misjudging and under-preparing for the implementation of new crew fatigue rules, which came into effect on November 1. IndiGo has requested relief from the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), citing the difficulty in adapting to the new rules. However, the DGCA has not yet accepted the request, and the airline has been instructed to urgently increase staffing and strengthen passenger-support services at affected airports. The crisis has also highlighted the lack of choice for passengers in India's aviation sector, with IndiGo and Air India dominating the market. The Airline Pilots Association of India has accused IndiGo of adopting a hiring freeze, entering non-poaching agreements with rivals, and maintaining a pilot pay freeze, which has led to a significant crew shortage. The disruptions have caused widespread frustration among passengers, with many reporting long wait times and inadequate assistance from airline staff. The DGCA has directed IndiGo to submit a detailed roadmap covering crew recruitment, training, and safety-risk assessments, and has ordered real-time field inspections at major airports to evaluate the airline's management of flight disruptions. The regulator has also indicated that it will review IndiGo's schedule ahead of the holiday season and audit the airline's staffing levels. It remains unclear whether the DGCA will impose penalties for the hundreds of November cancellations or grant IndiGo's request for relief from the very rules designed to ensure pilot safety. IndiGo shares have fallen 3.4% this week, and the airline has generated ₹84,000 crore in revenue in the past business year.
