Across Madhya Pradesh, at least 11 IndiGo flights were cancelled at airports in Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur. Indore Airport’s Terminal Manager said the disruptions stem from a “crew problem,” forcing the airline to ground multiple scheduled services.
IndiGo acknowledged the operational setback, citing a combination of technical issues, airport congestion and other procedural requirements. However, sources within the aviation sector pointed to the rollout of the second phase of Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules as the immediate trigger. The revised norms, which cap flying hours and rest periods, tightened staffing requirements across airlines.
The impact was visible at all major hubs, with services in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru facing significant delays. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, IndiGo’s On-Time Performance at six major airports plunged to 35 percent on Tuesday.
Passenger frustration escalated as flight changes were communicated late. One traveller on the Indore–Mumbai route said his December 4 booking was shifted to the next day without prior intimation, affecting his onward international journey. IndiGo responded publicly, asking him to share his PNR for assistance.
In Indore, several inbound flights arrived hours behind schedule, including services from Hyderabad, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai and Delhi. Departures were similarly hit, with delays stretching from one to six hours.
At Bhopal’s Raja Bhoj Airport, two sector flights — Hyderabad–Bhopal–Raipur and Raipur–Bhopal–Hyderabad were cancelled. Airport Director Ramji Awasthi said weather-related delays often snowball into FDTL violations, leaving airlines with no option but to cancel or reschedule flights.
Aviation officials expect disruptions to continue until crew rosters stabilise under the new duty norms.
