New Delhi: IndiGo cancelled more than 180 flights on Thursday across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru as the airline continued to grapple with an acute crew shortage triggered by the latest phase of flight-duty and rest-period norms for pilots.
Sources said Mumbai airport recorded 86 cancellations (41 arrivals and 45 departures), while 73 flights were cancelled in Bengaluru, including 41 arrivals. Delhi saw 33 cancellations, with the number expected to rise through the day.
The disruptions have sharply hit IndiGo’s On-Time Performance, which dropped to 19.7% at six major airports on December 3, down from 35% the previous day.
Officials familiar with the matter said the second phase of the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms has severely impacted crew availability, leading to widespread delays and cancellations.
The DGCA is investigating the disruptions and has asked IndiGo to explain the reasons and present a plan to reduce cancellations.
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has accused IndiGo of imposing a “hiring freeze” despite having two years to prepare for FDTL implementation. In its letter to the DGCA, the pilots’ body urged the regulator not to approve airlines’ seasonal schedules without adequate staffing and suggested reallocating slots to other airlines if IndiGo continues to fall short during the peak travel and fog season. (Agencies)
