IndiGo cancellations snarl India's air travel for fourth day

DW
DW
1M ago
IndiGo canceled around 1,000 flights after failing to adapt to new crew rostering rules, causing significant disruptions for travelers. The airline controls over 60% of India's domestic market.
IndiGo cancellations snarl India's air travel for fourth day
A What happened
IndiGo, a major budget airline in India, faced a crisis as it canceled approximately 1,000 flights, including all departures from New Delhi. This disruption was caused by the airline's failure to comply with new government regulations that mandated longer rest periods for pilots and limited night flying hours. The cancellations began four days ago, leading to significant operational challenges and a shortage of available pilots. The Civil Aviation Ministry intervened by pausing the new policy, allowing IndiGo some temporary relief. Passengers experienced long waits and chaos at airports, with reports of stranded travelers and even a couple who had to join their wedding reception via video link due to flight cancellations. IndiGo's stock dropped nearly 3% amid the turmoil, and opposition lawmakers are calling for discussions in parliament regarding the situation.

Key insights

  • 1

    Major flight cancellations: IndiGo canceled about 1,000 flights, affecting many travelers.

  • 2

    Government intervention: The Aviation Ministry paused new crew rest regulations.

  • 3

    Passenger frustrations: Travelers faced long waits and chaotic scenes at airports.

  • 4

    Stock market impact: IndiGo's shares dropped nearly 3% amid the crisis.

Takeaways

IndiGo's operational crisis highlights the challenges of adapting to new regulations in the aviation sector. The temporary pause by the government may provide some relief, but significant disruptions for travelers continue.

Topics

Lifestyle Travel Business & Markets Economy

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