IndiGo shares drop over 3% as massive flight meltdown sees 200 cancellations in a single day; DGCA launches probe

InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, saw its shares tumble more than 3% on Thursday as the airline grappled with one of its worst operational breakdowns in recent years. The stock slipped to ₹5,405 in morning trade its lowest in more than five months, extending its decline for the second straight session.

IndiGo’s network went into disarray on Wednesday when nearly 200 flights were cancelled in a single day, triggering widespread passenger frustration nationwide. The large-scale disruptions were largely driven by a severe crew shortage, especially among pilots, after the revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms came into effect last month. The new rules mandate longer rest hours and more humane work schedules for crew members, leaving the airline struggling to realign its operations quickly.

The fallout continued on Thursday, with around 73 more cancellations reported at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport alone.

IndiGo issued an apology, admitting that its network had faced major disruptions over the past two days. The carrier said the situation resulted from a combination of unexpected challenges – minor technical issues, winter schedule adjustments, bad weather, rising air traffic congestion, and the rollout of updated crew rostering rules – all converging to create an unanticipated crisis.

To stabilise operations, the airline has implemented calibrated schedule adjustments that will remain in force for 48 hours. IndiGo said it expects these measures to gradually restore punctuality and normalise its network.

Meanwhile, aviation regulator DGCA has initiated a probe into the disruptions. The watchdog has sought a detailed report from IndiGo explaining the root causes behind the cancellations and its plan to minimise delays and passenger inconvenience.

The turbulence has hit market sentiment as well. IndiGo’s shares had already slipped around 2% on Tuesday to close at ₹5,595.50. The stock has declined nearly 6 per cent over the last five trading days, although it still remains over 2% higher on a six-month basis.

(This story was taken from syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)