India’s domestic aviation sector is currently facing one of its most severe disruptions as IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, entered its sixth straight day of operational turmoil. Over 1,000 flights were removed from schedules within a single day earlier this week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across major hubs like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
At Writerly.in, we’ve synthesized the latest directives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA to help you navigate this crisis.
The Verified Debrief: Why the Meltdown Happened
VERIFIED.
Core Cause: The crisis stems from an acute crew shortage triggered by the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms.
- Pilot Rest Mandates: New rules increased mandatory weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours and capped night landings per pilot to two per week (down from six).
- Planning Lapse: The DGCA alleged a failure in planning and resource management to handle these rules despite a final implementation date set for November 1.
- System Reboot: IndiGo deliberately scaled down operations to reboot rosters and systems, resulting in the largest number of cancellations in Indian aviation history.
Your Rights: Compensation & Refunds
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a strict order: IndiGo must clear all pending passenger refunds by 8:00 PM today, December 7.
1. Cancellation Rights
- Full Refunds: You have an absolute right to a full refund if the airline cancels your flight. This must be processed automatically to your original mode of payment.
- Free Rebooking: Passengers can choose to rebook on the next available IndiGo flight at no extra cost.
- Rescheduling Waiver: IndiGo is offering a full waiver on all cancellations or reschedule requests for travel dates between December 5 and December 15, 2025.
2. Flight Delay Entitlements
- Wait Time Meals: Free meals and refreshments must be provided if the wait exceeds two hours for short-haul flights or four hours for longer flights.
- Hotel Stays: Stranded travelers facing overnight delays (between 8:00 PM and 3:00 AM) or delays exceeding 24 hours are entitled to free hotel accommodation.
Action Plan: What You Should Do Now
- Check Status Before Leaving: Do not go to the airport if your flight is cancelled. Verify your PNR status on the official IndiGo website.
- Baggage Recovery: If you were separated from your bags, the government has ordered delivery to your residence within 48 hours.
- Fare Caps: The government has imposed temporary fare caps to stop surge pricing. Fares for routes between 1,000km and 1,500km should not exceed ₹15,000.
- Special Support: Vulnerable or senior citizens can demand lounge access and priority support per govt directives.