India travel chaos: Are pilots overworked compared to other countries?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by Sarah ShamimDecember 8, 2025 at 04:02 PM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

IndiGo, India's largest airline, has cancelled approximately 3,400 flights since December 2nd, causing widespread travel disruptions across major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. The cancellations, impacting thousands of passengers, stem from a pilot shortage exacerbated by the airline's failure to adapt to new government regulations regarding pilot rest and duty hours implemented earlier in 2024. These new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) aim to improve pilot working conditions and manage fatigue. The disruptions have significantly impacted travel, prompting government intervention, including a cap on domestic fares. IndiGo, controlling 65% of the market share, anticipates operations returning to normal by December 15th.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Mumbai ×250% New Delhi 50% India ×780% IndiGo ×680%

Keywords

flight cancellations 90% pilot working conditions 90% pilot shortage 80% rest and duty hours 80% fdtl regulations 70% flight disruptions 70% air travel 60% airline industry 60% domestic fares 50% market share 50%