What Went Wrong?
Over 1,000 IndiGo flights cancelled in a single day, including all departures from Delhi at one point.
New DGCA pilot duty and rest norms came into force, limiting night shifts and flying hours
Reports say IndiGo ran a very “lean” manpower strategy for years, with limited buffer staff.
Airfares on other airlines surged as demand spiked amid IndiGo’s large‑scale cancellations.
The Civil Aviation Ministry issued urgent directives and ordered special measures to move stranded passengers.
CEO Pieter Elbers admitted “operational failures” and said the airline “could not live up to its promise” to customers.
The crisis hurt IndiGo’s reputation for punctual, low‑cost operations built over years.
IndiGo trimmed schedules, added wet‑lease capacity and reworked rosters to stabilise operations.
Even market leaders can stumble if they under‑plan for safety‑driven regulations and manpower needs.