Over 1200 flights cancelled in 4 days, government on the back foot: Weekly rest rule immediately withdrawn

The central government has granted relief to India's largest airline, IndiGo, from the new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules. The government has immediately withdrawn its order which mandated a continuous 48-hour weekly rest period for pilots and other crew members every seven days.

The new rules from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stipulated that weekly rest and holidays be treated separately. These rules were designed to reduce fatigue among pilots and other crew members. However, now the crew will receive a continuous 36-hour rest period every seven days, as before.

Due to the DGCA's new rules, IndiGo faced a shortage of crew members (including pilots and other flight staff) for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. This resulted in the cancellation of over 500 flights at several airports, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad.

The situation at the airports is dire. Passengers have been waiting for flights for up to 24 hours. They are not receiving any information about their flights. At Delhi airport, passengers were seen arguing and fighting with staff and security personnel over water, food, and essential supplies. In several instances, the situation escalated to physical altercations.

Delhi Airport: All Flights Cancelled, Know the Situation

Delhi IGI: The highest number of cancellations, 225 flights, occurred in Delhi. IndiGo has cancelled all domestic flights departing from Delhi airport until midnight tonight. Thousands of suitcases were left lying around the terminal. Many passengers took more than 12 hours to retrieve their luggage. The crowds became so large that passengers sat on the floor and stairs for hours waiting for their flights.

Mumbai: Long queues formed at IndiGo counters after several flights were cancelled.
Raipur: Elderly people and young children had to wait for hours on chairs. Some passengers were seen arguing with staff and security personnel.

Pune: 32 flights were cancelled at this airport since this morning. After the cancellations, passengers' luggage remained piled up in trolleys. Passengers had to wait a long time to retrieve their belongings. Hyderabad: 32 flights have been cancelled here. Thousands of passengers across the country are facing inconvenience due to flight cancellations and delays.

Bengaluru: 102 flights have been cancelled in Bengaluru. Here too, people were seen waiting for hours at the airport before returning home.
Indigo had appealed to the DGCA on Thursday to grant it an exemption from the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules until February 10, 2026. The company assured that its operational situation would return to normal within three months.