India withdraws pilot restrictions after largest airline cancels flights
and disrupts airports
[December 06, 2025] By
RAJESH ROY
NEW DELHI (AP) — India's aviation watchdog temporarily rolled back
restrictions on airline crew duty hours, days after the previous order
disrupted operations at major Indian airports as the country’s biggest
airline, IndiGo, scrambled to restore normal services.
The new regulations mandated longer rest periods and limited night
flying hours for crew and pilots to address concerns about fatigue and
safety. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said late Friday the
suspension of the new rules would go into effect immediately.
“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,”
the ministry said in a statement.
Friday was the fourth straight day of disruptions as the low-cost
carrier IndiGo struggled with the rules change. Scenes of frustration
played out as passengers slept on airport floors, queued for hours at
customer service counters and waited without clear communication from
the airline.
The first phase of the rules came into effect in July while the second
phase kicked in November. IndiGo struggled to adapt its rosters in time,
resulting in widespread cancellations and disruptions.
On Thursday, more than 300 IndiGo flights were grounded while several
hundreds delayed. A passenger advisory from the Delhi airport Friday
stated that all domestic IndiGo flights will remain cancelled until
midnight. Other major airlines, including Air India, have not faced
similar issues so far.
IndiGo operates around 2,300 flights daily and controls nearly 65% of
India’s domestic aviation market.
[to top of second column] |
Three Indigo Airlines planes are seen through a glass window at the
Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi as several flights
operated by the carrier were either cancelled or delayed, India,
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
 Senior citizen Sajal Bose was
scheduled to travel with his wife Senjuti Bose early Friday from
Kolkata to New Delhi to attend a friend’s silver jubilee
celebration. His flight was cancelled an hour before the scheduled
take off.
Bose told The Associated Press he was now taking a nine-hour train
ride to the city Bagdogra, where he plans to get a flight to New
Delhi on another airline. “Its very irresponsible and complete
negligence. Very difficult for older people like us,” he said.
In an internal email to employees this week, seen by The Associated
Press, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers apologized, and cited technology
glitches, schedule changes, adverse weather conditions, heightened
congestion and the implementation of the new rules as the reasons
for flight disruptions.
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement that the
disruptions arose primarily through misjudgment and planning gaps as
the airline implemented phase two of the new rules, and that the
airline acknowledged that the effect on crew strength exceeded their
expectations.
IndiGo had sought temporary exemptions in implementing the new rules
and told the government that corrective measures were underway,
indicating operations will be fully restored by Feb. 10.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
