Pilot Shortage Forces Indigo to Cancel Multiple Flights

Mumbai: Indigo cancelled over a hundred flights on Wednesday due to a shortage of pilots and other staff, compounded by technical issues.

Many flights were delayed, leaving passengers stranded for hours and prompting protests at airports including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. In Bengaluru, 42 arrivals and departures were cancelled, while Delhi saw 38 flights cancelled. Hyderabad experienced over 30 cancellations in just two days.

Of Indigo’s daily 2,200+ flights, only 35 percent operated on schedule on Tuesday, and just 49.5 percent ran on time on Monday. Reports suggest that strict rest guidelines for pilots, effective from November 1, are being cited as a reason for the shortage. Pilots were also reportedly asked to forgo leave and report for duty.