Gurugram (Haryana) [India], December 7 (ANI): IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Sunday announced that the airline is recovering from recent disruptions and aims to operate approximately 1,650 flights to address significant cancellations and delays caused by new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules.
Speaking from the airline’s operational control centre in Gurugram, Elbers conveyed a message of reassurance, saying, “Step by step, we’re getting back,” while thanking staff and assuring customers that efforts are ongoing to restore full service.
“In my earlier messages, I conveyed we would be rebooting the system on Friday, taking a significant number of cancellations, and starting afresh on Saturday. That has worked well, with some 1,500 flights operated yesterday compared to only about 700 on Friday. We have also been able to execute cancellations earlier, so customers don’t show up at the airport if their flights are cancelled. It gives us all the confidence that step by step, we’re getting back,” he said.
Elbers added that operations are expected to improve further, enabling the airline to reach around 1,650 flights, with better on-time performance (OTP), fewer cancellations, and advanced notifications to customers. He projected Sunday’s OTP at around 75 per cent, a significant rise from 30 per cent the previous day, and noted that network coverage has been restored with 137 stations operational.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to handle customer refunds, luggage, and rebooking, stating that the backlog is steadily being reduced. Elbers expressed gratitude to government agencies and aviation stakeholders, concluding, “I’m confident that we will emerge stronger from here.”
The recent disruption was primarily due to IndiGo’s challenges in preparing for and complying with the stricter pilot rest regulations under the new FDTL rules, which came into effect on November 1, 2025. (ANI)
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