IndiGo says it has restored 95% network connectivity after days of massive disruptions

The airline said it operated flights to 135 of its 138 destinations on Saturday and is expected to handle more than 1,500 flights by the end of the day.

IndiGo reiterated its apology to passengers, stating that it is “committed to build back the trust of our customers” after the unprecedented breakdown in schedules earlier this week.

IndiGo says ops stabilising after ‘reboot’ effort

The airline acknowledged that Friday marked its “most severely impacted day,” when nearly 1,000 flights were cancelled across the country.

IndiGo said it was able to operate just over 700 flights connecting 113 destinations that day as part of what it described as a network-wide “reboot.”

According to an IndiGo spokesperson, the immediate priority on Friday was to reset systems, rosters, and network operations to allow for a cleaner and more stable restart on Saturday.

Crowds at major airports—including Mumbai and Bengaluru—receded slightly on Saturday, though many frustrated passengers continued to report delays, cancellations and issues retrieving baggage.

What triggered the crisis

IndiGo, long known for its punctuality and scale of operations, admitted that it failed to adequately prepare for the rollout of stricter Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules for pilots that took effect on November 1.

The updated regulations mandate tighter restrictions on night flying hours and weekly rest, forcing airlines to restructure crew rosters.

IndiGo’s inability to adjust its scheduling in time caused a cascading collapse across its operations, leading to crew shortages, mass delays and widespread cancellations over the past week.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has instructed IndiGo to complete all refunds related to cancelled flights by 8 pm on Sunday and to ensure all delayed baggage reaches passengers within two days.

Airlines have also been ordered not to levy rescheduling charges for affected travellers.

IndiGo stressed it is handling refund issues “on priority.”

DGCA's notice to IndiGo CEO

In a rare and strongly worded intervention, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers over the airline’s operational collapse.

The regulator said the disruptions caused “severe inconvenience, hardship and distress” to passengers nationwide.

It accused the airline of failing to make necessary arrangements for the new FDTL rules, which had been notified months in advance.

According to the notice, IndiGo violated multiple Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), failed to comply with Rule 42A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, and did not provide mandated assistance to stranded passengers.

The DGCA holds the CEO directly responsible for ensuring effective management of airline operations.

Elbers has 24 hours to respond; failure to do so may lead to the regulator deciding the matter ex parte, opening the possibility of financial penalties or operational restrictions.

IndiGo vows to rebuild trust

Despite the unprecedented crisis, IndiGo said it has made “early improvements” following its operational reset and is determined to restore reliability.

In a video message on Friday, CEO Pieter Elbers apologised to passengers, acknowledging the scale of the disruption and assuring that the airline is working to ensure stability in the coming days.

With 95 percent of its network now restored, IndiGo says it is focused on regaining the confidence of millions of travellers who were affected by the week-long meltdown.