IndiGo faces widespread delays and cancellations in Mumbai amid crew shortage; on-time performance drops to 35%

The Mumbai–Maldives service was among those hit by long delays, while several domestic flights to and from the city were also affected during peak hours, the people added.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, IndiGo attributed the delays and cancellations to “various reasons, including technology issues, airport congestion, and operational requirements” and said its teams were “working diligently” to normalise operations as soon as possible. The airline said affected passengers were being offered alternative flight options or refunds “as applicable”, and urged customers to check the latest flight status on its website before travelling to the airport.

The disruptions came after IndiGo’s on-time performance—the ability to operate flights according to the scheduled departure and arrival times—from six key domestic airports fell to around 35 per cent on Tuesday, down from about 49.5 per cent the previous day. The plunge coincided with the full rollout of the second phase of revised flight duty time limitation (FDTL) norms from November 1, which expanded rest requirements for pilots and tightened duty-time windows, contributing to near-term scheduling strain, the people added.

People aware of the matter said IndiGo had been reaching out to pilots on sick leave and asking others to defer or give up privilege leave to help plug roster gaps, even as some crew failed to report for duty in Mumbai, adding to the disruption.

Pilot bodies have flagged concerns over how airlines are implementing the revised FDTL regime, with representatives telling the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that misinterpretation or aggressive rostering around the new limits could undermine the intent of the rules, according to people familiar with recent interactions. The DGCA has separately warned carriers that it will act against violations of duty-time limits as it reviews compliance following the November transition, the people added.

IndiGo, which operates a fleet of around 400 aircraft and typically runs over 2,000 flights a day, has warned of short-term operational pressure as carriers adjust to the new duty-time regime. With reduced crew availability, multiple no-shows reported by people aware of the matter and the ongoing implementation of the revised rules, the disruptions at Mumbai on Wednesday marked one of the most significant recent stress points for the airline’s operations, the people added.

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