IndiGo Flight Chaos: Pilot Rules & Staffing Woes Ground Hundreds

• IndiGo cancelled hundreds of flights due to an operational crisis stemming from new pilot duty-time regulations and a "lean-staffing" model.
• The airline underestimated the need for additional pilots, leading to a significant shortfall under revised DGCA Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules.
• Mass cancellations caused widespread chaos, stranding tens of thousands of passengers and disrupting travel plans across India.
• Regulators intervened with fare caps and a temporary exemption for IndiGo, while the airline offered refunds and aimed to restore normalcy.
• DGCA issued show-cause notices to IndiGo's CEO and Accountable Manager, and IndiGo formed a Crisis Management Group.

Why It Matters: IndiGo's cancellations highlight aviation's vulnerability to staffing and new rules.