India's travel chaos has worsened as the country's largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled hundreds of scheduled flights on Friday after three days of widespread disruption across its network.
The carrier, which has a 60% market share in India and operates more than 2,000 flights daily, is currently facing pilot shortages stemming from its failure to adapt to new crew rostering regulations.
Thousands of passengers are left stranded across India at a particularly busy travel season, as all IndiGo flights from the capital city of Delhi have been cancelled.
IndiGo has announced that operations will return to full normalcy only by February 10, seeking temporary relief from new regulations that mandate longer rest periods and limit night duties for pilots.
To mitigate turmoil, the airline will reduce its flight operations starting December 8. The government is closely monitoring the situation, with the federal aviation minister expressing clear displeasure at IndiGo's management of the crisis.
The disruptions have been attributed to significant misjudgment and planning failures in implementing the new duty time limitation rules, as stated by India's aviation regulator, which has ordered IndiGo to prepare a detailed plan addressing crew recruitment and training among other requirements.
Local media suggests that IndiGo has been granted waivers from stringent pilot rest rules, temporarily easing the once prohibitive measures to stabilize flight operations. However, the Airline Pilots Association of India has criticized this as compromising the safety principles these regulations were intended to uphold.
Notably, the new rules require pilots to make only two night-time landings per week, a reduction from six, aiming to ensure better rest and safety for airline crews.
December marks a peak travel month in India due to school holidays and the wedding season. IndiGo has pledged to waive cancellation fees for travel between December 5 and 15 and is arranging accommodations for affected passengers.
Meanwhile, reports from the airport indicate that several travelers are growing frustrated over the lack of timely updates and support, leading to extended periods of hunger and anxiety while they wait for resolution.
Even high-ranking officials like Singapore's High Commissioner faced the consequences, missing important events due to the flight cancellations.
Advisories have been issued at major airports, urging passengers to confirm flight statuses before heading to the terminals amidst this tumultuous period.
