IndiGo Flight Cancellations ‘Strategic,’ Pilot Claims

IndiGo faced widespread disruptions for the third consecutive day, with over 550 domestic and international flights cancelled or delayed across multiple airports. While passengers bore the brunt, a pilot claimed that the chaos was not random but a deliberate strategy targeting domestic flights, while largely protecting international routes.

The pilot, who posts on social media as Griffin, explained that domestic cancellations were designed to create visible passenger frustration and public pressure. International flights, generating higher revenue and facing stricter compensation rules abroad, were largely spared. “They shielded profitable high-margin international routes and sacrificed low-margin domestic sectors—a calculated move to push for a rollback of FDTL rules,” he said.

The Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules, revised by DGCA in 2024, regulate pilots’ duty hours, night landings, and mandatory rest. Originally set to take effect in June 2024, their phased rollout from July 2025 to November 2025 coincided with IndiGo cancelling over 400 flights. The pilot’s claims suggest these operational disruptions were strategically aligned to influence public perception and policy decisions.

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