New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday released a detailed update on flight cancellations and on-time performance (OTP) of India’s largest airline, IndiGo. The regulator confirmed that it is investigating the matter and has called on the airline to provide full details along with concrete mitigation measures.
According to data provided by IndiGo, the airline cancelled 1,232 flights in November. Of these, 755 were due to crew and flight duty time limitation (FDTL) issues, 92 due to ATC system malfunctions, 258 due to airport and airspace restrictions, and 127 due to other miscellaneous reasons.
The DGCA stated that a significant portion of the disruptions were due to factors beyond the operator’s direct control, including ATC-related delays and capacity restrictions at specific airports. This impact was clearly evident in IndiGo’s punctuality record. The airline’s OTP fell from 84.1% in October to 67.70% in November, marking one of its largest month-on-month declines. ATC-related delays accounted for 16% of total delays, followed by crew operations at 6%, airport facility issues at 3%, and other factors at 8%.
The aviation regulator stated that it has issued further clarifications to IndiGo to facilitate the implementation of the revised FDTL regulations. These regulations have come into sharp focus as airlines are adjusting crew schedules to meet fatigue-management requirements. The DGCA also confirmed that it is considering further measures with the airline to reduce cancellations and improve punctuality.
IndiGo, in a detailed statement, acknowledged significant network disruptions over the past two days and apologized to passengers. An airline spokesperson said, “Several sudden operational challenges, including significant technical glitches, winter-related schedule changes, inclement weather, increased aviation congestion, and the implementation of updated FDTL regulations, have had an unprecedented impact on our operations.”
To stabilize operations, the carrier has initiated schedule changes, which are expected to continue for the next 48 hours. This will help restore punctuality and reduce persistent delays. IndiGo stated that teams are working 24 hours to assist affected passengers and offer alternative travel options or refunds where applicable.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has advised passengers to check flight status through official channels before traveling to the airport, while IndiGo has urged passengers to check their flight status for real-time updates on its website. The airline stated, “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and are fully prepared to minimize the disruption.” The regulator’s investigation is ongoing, and IndiGo is expected to inform DGCA headquarters about the reasons behind the disruptions and its plans to prevent further cancellations.
