IndiGo Flight Chaos Ending Soon: CEO Promises Normal Service from Dec 10-15 – 1000+ Cancellations Today!
New Delhi, December 5, 2025 – After five straight days of nationwide flight cancellations, long queues and angry passengers, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers has finally given a clear timeline: full normal operations expected between **December 10 and December 15**.
In a heartfelt video message released Friday evening, Elbers admitted the airline has been through its toughest week ever:
He confirmed today (Dec 5) was the worst day yet – **over 1,000 flights cancelled** – but Saturday will see cancellations drop below 1,000 for the first time this week. The CEO personally apologised again and outlined three immediate steps IndiGo is taking to fix the mess.
Why This Week Was IndiGo’s Darkest Ever
Since Tuesday, IndiGo has cancelled more than **2,000 flights** and delayed thousands more. On Wednesday alone, on-time performance (OTP) crashed to just **19.7%** – the lowest in the airline’s 19-year history (normally 80%+).
The main reason? The second phase of new DGCA pilot rest rules (FDTL) that started November 1:
- Weekly rest increased from 36 → 48 hours
- Night flights limited to only 2 consecutive days
- Night definition extended (starts 8 PM instead of midnight)
IndiGo runs the maximum red-eye flights and has the leanest crew model – so when hundreds of pilots suddenly became unavailable, the domino effect was massive.
Dec 10-15 → Full normal operations expected
IndiGo’s 3-Step Recovery Plan
CEO Elbers shared exactly what the airline is doing right now:
- Better Customer Communication→ Detailed emails sent about refunds & options
→ Call centre capacity doubled
→ Social media updates every few hours
- Helping Stranded Passengers Today→ Priority to fly everyone stuck at major airports on Friday itself
→ “Please don’t come to airport if your flight is cancelled – we’ll notify you”
- Resetting Operations→ Planned cancellations today to reposition aircraft & crew
→ Fresh start from Saturday morning
DGCA’s Big U-Turn: Eases Night Flight Rules Temporarily
In a major relief move, the DGCA has relaxed some FDTL restrictions till December 31, 2025:
- Night duty cap temporarily increased
- Some weekly rest flexibility allowed
- Airlines given time to hire more pilots
This gives IndiGo crucial breathing space to recover faster.
Passenger Rights – Don’t Let IndiGo Forget!
If your flight was cancelled or delayed >3 hours:
- Full refund (no cancellation charges)
- Free rebooking on next available flight
- Meal voucher + hotel if overnight delay
- Compensation up to ₹20,000 possible (file on AirSewa)
Still waiting for refund? Raise ticket on airsewa.gov.in or consumer court.
When Will Things Actually Get Better?
Realistic timeline based on CEO statement + DGCA relief:
- Dec 6–8: Cancellations drop to 300–600 per day
- Dec 9–10: OTP crosses 60%
- Dec 11–15: OTP 75–85% (near normal)
- By Jan 2026: 100% back to old glory
Christmas-New Year Travel Warning
Peak season is just 15 days away. If you have bookings between Dec 20–Jan 10:
- Keep flexible dates
- Consider Air India, Vistara, Akasa (higher OTP right now)
- Buy travel insurance
- Reach airport 4 hours early
CEO’s Emotional Message to Passengers
In his video, Elbers got visibly emotional:
“I understand these disruptions have shaken your belief in IndiGo’s reliability – carefully built over 19 years. My 40,000+ colleagues are working relentlessly to restore your trust… and strengthen it further.”
Final Word: The Light at the End of the Runway
Yes, this has been IndiGo’s worst week ever. But with DGCA relief, honest communication, and a clear recovery timeline (Dec 10-15), the airline that carries 6 lakh passengers daily is fighting back.
For now, patience is key. Check flight status every hour, keep alternate plans ready, and remember – this storm will pass.
IndiGo will fly high again. Just give it 10 more days.
Safe travels!
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