IndiGo Shares Slide as Flight Disruptions, Crew Shortage Hit Operations Nationwide

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of budget carrier IndiGo, witnessed a sharp fall in its share price on Thursday, slipping over 3 per cent as the airline continued to battle widespread flight cancellations and operational chaos across India. The stock declined to Rs 5,405 in early trade — its lowest level in more than five months — extending losses for the second consecutive session and reflecting deep investor concern over the carrier’s current challenges.

IndiGo faced one of its most severe operational disruptions in recent years on Wednesday, with approximately 200 flights cancelled nationwide. The primary reason behind the upheaval was a major shortage of flight crew, particularly pilots, triggered by the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules last month. The new aviation norms mandate longer rest periods and more humane work schedules for crew members, significantly impacting rostering flexibility for airlines.

Despite being the country’s largest airline, IndiGo has struggled to realign its dense flight network with the revised duty norms at short notice. The impact of the crisis spilled into Thursday as well, with nearly 73 flights cancelled at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport alone, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and dealing with delays, rebookings, and missed connections.

Following the wave of cancellations, IndiGo issued a public apology to passengers, acknowledging that the airline had faced “major disruptions” across its network over the past two days. The airline attributed the situation to a combination of unforeseen challenges, including minor technical issues, winter schedule transitions, adverse weather conditions, rising air traffic congestion, and the rollout of updated crew rostering rules.

In a bid to stabilise operations, IndiGo said it has carried out calibrated schedule reductions that will remain in effect for the next 48 hours. The airline expressed optimism that these adjustments will help restore operational normalcy and gradually improve punctuality across its network.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken cognisance of the large-scale disruptions and initiated an investigation into the matter. The aviation regulator has asked IndiGo to submit a comprehensive report detailing the reasons behind the mass cancellations and the airline’s action plan to reduce delays and minimise inconvenience to passengers moving forward.

The turbulence has also reflected sharply on the stock market. IndiGo shares had already dropped nearly 2 per cent on Tuesday to close at Rs 5,595.50. Over the last five trading sessions, the stock has declined by nearly 6 per cent, although it still remains over 2 per cent higher on a six-month basis, indicating longer-term investor confidence remains intact for now.

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and passenger frustration grows, IndiGo faces a critical test of operational resilience in the coming days.

Team Maverick.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)