India's IndiGo Airline Grounded: At Least 250 Flights Cancelled Amid Crew Shortage
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India's largest airline, IndiGo, has faced severe operational disruptions, resulting in the cancellation of at least 250 flights across the country. The chaos at airports has left thousands of passengers stranded, with many taking to social media to express their frustration. According to officials, 33 flights were cancelled in Delhi, 68 in Hyderabad, 85 in Mumbai, and 73 in Bengaluru on Thursday. The disruptions have been attributed to a crew shortage, which has been exacerbated by the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules. The FDTL rules, which came into effect in November, aim to reduce pilot fatigue by introducing a weekly rest period of 48 hours, longer night hours, and a limit of two night landings. However, the airline has struggled to adapt to the new regulations, leading to a significant decline in its on-time performance. On Wednesday, Delhi airport saw 67 flight cancellations, while Bengaluru had 42, Hyderabad had 40, and Mumbai saw 33 flight cancellations. The disruptions have impacted thousands of passengers across the country for three consecutive days. Passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with many sharing videos of the chaos at airports. One passenger wrote on social media, "We have been at Hyderabad Airport from yesterday at 6:00 PM until today at 9:00 AM—over 12 hours—with no action taken by IndiGo regarding the Pune flight.
